Coat of Arms Spotlight: German Philosopher Immanuel Kant

April 22, 2014, marked the 290th birthday of German philosopher Immanuel Kant, one of the most important influences of modern philosophy. In his work, Kant introduced groundbreaking perspectives in philosophy, beliefs that continue to shape conversations on morality, aesthetics and the philosophical structure of human experience today.

„Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law,“ Kant said. This is one of his most famous philosophical principles, known as the „categorical imperative“ and first introduced in Kant’s 1785 Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals.

Kant was born in 1724 in Königsberg, Prussia (what has now become part of Russia) and spent his life there. His father was a harness maker and presumed to be from Scotland. Kant came from a simple, humble background.

In Kant’s coat of arms, the image of the sun is central. This may suggest „enlightenment,“ an illumination of ideas present in many of his writings. The grid of boxes in the lower portion beneath the sun could be a reference to the game of chess, and thus as a symbol for logical and analytical thinking. The wings of the crest suggest the liberation of the mind from its constraints. It is impossible to know with certainty what thinking went into the design of this coat of arms nearly three centuries ago. However these suggested ideas fit with the symbols and what we know of Kant’s legacy well.

 

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