1724–1804 · modern philosophy, epistemology, ethics, metaphysics
Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) was a German philosopher from Königsberg, East Prussia, considered one of the central figures of modern philosophy. He synthesized rationalism and empiricism, fundamentally reshaping metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics, thereby laying the groundwork for much of 19th and 20th-century thought. He lived his entire life in and around his hometown, a testament to his deeply systematic and methodical approach to intellectual work.