Kantian

American  

[kan-tee-uhn, kahn-] / ˈkæn ti ən, ˈkɑn- /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling the philosophy of Kant.

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noun

1. an adherent of the philosophy of Immanuel Kant.

Kantian British  

/ ˈkæntɪən /

adjective

1. (of a philosophical theory) derived from or analogous to a position of Immanuel Kant, esp his doctrines that there are synthetic a priori propositions which order our experience but are not derived from it, that metaphysical conclusions can be inferred from the nature of possible experience, that duty is to be done for its own sake and not as a means to any other end, and that there is a world of things-in-themselves to be distinguished from mere phenomena See also transcendental argument transcendental idealism categorical imperative noumenon

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Other Word Forms

• Kantianism noun
• post-Kantian adjective
• pre-Kantian adjective

Etymology

Origin of Kantian

First recorded in 1810–20; Kant + -ian

Example Sentences

Since the Enlightenment, many societies have adopted the Kantian value that humans should not be treated as a means to an end.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

These are positive, humane and respectful activities; therefore they satisfy the Kantian test of rationality.

From Washington Post • Sep. 3, 2021

Srinivasan: I'm a Kantian about free will, I think.

From Scientific American • Oct. 5, 2019

The study of moral development began with Lawrence Kohlberg’s justice-based stages of development, which had Kantian roots.

From Salon • Sep. 16, 2018

We can apply to this second element in the reproductive process, which we have found to be essential to the causal relation, a Kantian term, "Recognition."

From International Congress of Arts and Science, Volume I Philosophy and Metaphysics by Various