The Kantian Centennial [pp. 394-424]

THE KANTIAN CENTENNIAL.
T is not easy to overestimate or to overstate the signifi cance of the publication in I78I of Kant's "Critique of
Pure Reason." It is in no partisan or fanatical spirit that
the student of philosophy and of human progress observes
the centennial year of I88I in commemoration of this event,
by reviewing the significant changes in human thinking and
human institutions-in philosophy and science, in literature and
art, in ethics and theology-which may be properly referred to
Kant and his great treatise. It is of comparatively little importance what interpretations we give to the leading positions of
this memorable work, or what opinions we may hold of their
truth or falsehood. We may hold that the conclusions of the
author are uncertain or vacillating, that they are wholly or partly
true or false, and yet we may most fervently and rationally believe that he rendered a service to philosophy, to culture, and to
faith which should render him immortal.
This service may be described in a word. The "Critique of
Pure Reason" raised questions for human speculation which
could never afterwards remain unanswered. It proposed problems to philosophy which philosophy was compelled to attempt
to solve. The "Critique of Pure Reason," if it accomplished
nothing more, settled once for all the question that science, philosophy, experience, common-sense, and faith rest on certain
fundamental principles which must in some way or other be justified to man's critical examination if he would justify his confidence in any form of knowledge. It may be said, and with a
show of truth, that this position had been held by every great
philosopher from Socrates down to Locke or Hume. And yet it
had not been so inculcated as to be effectually wrought into the