Front matter
Original German
B i Kritik der reinen Vernunft von Immanuel Kant
Professor in Königsberg, der Königl. Akademie der Wissenschaften in Berlin Mitglied
Zweite hin und wieder verbesserte Auflage (1787)
B ii Baco de Verulamio
Instauratio magna. Praefatio.
De nobis ipsis silemus: De re autem, quae agitur, petimus: ut homines eam non Opinionem, sed Opus esse cogitent; ac pro certo habeant, non Sectae nos alicuius, aut Placiti, sed utilitatis et amplitudinis humanae fundamenta moliri. Deinde ut suis commodis aequi in commune consulant et ipsi in partem veniant. Praeterea ut bene sperent, neque Instaurationem nostram ut quidam infinitum et ultra mortale fingant, et animo concipiant; quum revera sit infiniti erroris finis et terminus legitimus.
B iii Sr. Exzellenz, dem Königl. Staatsminister Freiherrn von Zedlitz
B v Gnädiger Herr!
Den Wachstum der Wissenschaften an seinem Teile befördern, heißt an Ew. Exzellenz eigenem Interesse arbeiten; denn dieses ist mit jenen, nicht bloß durch den erhabenen Posten eines Beschützers, sondern durch das viel vertrautere eines Liebhabers und erleuchteten Kenners, innigst verbunden. Deswegen bediene ich mich auch des einigen Mittels, das gewissermaßen in meinem Vermögen ist, meine Dankbarkeit für das gnädige Zutrauen zu bezeigen, womit Ew. Exzellenz mich beehren, als könne ich zu dieser Absicht etwas beitragen.
B vi Demselben gnädigen Augenmerke, dessen Ew. Exzellenz die erste Auflage dieses Werks gewürdigt haben, widme ich nun auch diese zweite und hiermit zugleich alle übrige Angelegenheit meiner literarischen Bestimmung, und bin mit der tiefsten Verehrung
Ew. Exzellenz untertänig gehorsamster Diener Königsberg den 23sten April 1787 Immanuel Kant
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the complete German of the 1787 second edition (B), with the printed B page numbers set at the corresponding points of the text as page references and the author’s footnotes placed as he printed them. The German follows a public-domain transcription read against the 1787 print: at six places where the print is defective an attested reading of the 1911 Academy edition is adopted, the page the volume numbers 658 is cited as B865, and the provider’s added contents table and its gloss of the Latin tag are excluded because the 1787 page does not print them.
B i Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant
Professor in Königsberg, Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Berlin
Second Edition, Improved Here and There (1787)
B ii Bacon of Verulam
The Great Renewal. Preface.
Of ourselves we say nothing. As for the matter in hand, we ask that people regard it not as an opinion but as a work, and hold it certain that we are laying foundations not for some sect or doctrine, but for human welfare and greatness. Next, we ask that, being fair to their own interests, they take counsel for the common good and themselves take part. Further, that they be of good hope, and neither imagine nor conceive our renewal, as some do, to be something infinite and beyond mortal power; for in truth it is the end and rightful limit of endless error.
B iii To His Excellency, the Royal Minister of State, Baron von Zedlitz
B v Gracious Sir,
To do one’s part to advance the growth of the sciences is to serve Your Excellency’s own interest; for this interest is most intimately bound to them, not merely through the exalted position of a patron, but through the far closer position of a lover and enlightened connoisseur. I therefore also avail myself of the only means that lies to some extent within my power to express my gratitude for the gracious confidence with which Your Excellency honors me, as if I could contribute something to this end.
B vi To the same gracious attention that Your Excellency bestowed on the first edition of this work, I now dedicate this second edition, and with it all the other concerns of my literary calling, and remain, with the deepest reverence,
Your Excellency’s most humbly obedient servant, Königsberg, April 23, 1787 Immanuel Kant
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the same complete German of the 1787 second edition, with the printed B page numbers set at the corresponding points of the text as page references and the author’s footnotes placed as he printed them. The German follows a public-domain transcription read against the 1787 print: at six places where the print is defective an attested reading of the 1911 Academy edition is adopted, the page the volume numbers 658 is cited as B865, and the provider’s added contents table and its gloss of the Latin tag are excluded because the 1787 page does not print them.
B i Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant
Professor at Königsberg, and a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Berlin
Second edition, improved here and there (1787)
B ii Bacon of Verulam
The Great Renewal. Preface.
About ourselves we keep silent. About the matter in hand we ask this: that people think of it as a work to be done and not as an opinion, and be sure that we are laying the foundations not for any sect or doctrine, but for human benefit and human greatness. Then we ask that they be fair about their own interests, take counsel together for the common good, and take a share in the work themselves. And we ask that they hope for the best. They shouldn’t picture our Renewal, as some do, as something endless and beyond what a mortal can do, or take it that way in their minds. In truth it is the end of endless error, and its rightful limit.
B iii To His Excellency, the Royal State Minister, Baron von Zedlitz
B v Gracious Sir!
Anyone who helps the sciences grow, in whatever small part, is working in Your Excellency’s own interest. Your interest is closely bound up with the sciences. It is tied to them not only by your high post as their protector, but by something much more personal: you are a lover of them and an enlightened expert. So I’m using the one means that lies, in some measure, within my power to show my thanks for the gracious trust with which Your Excellency honors me, as if I could contribute something to this aim.
B vi Your Excellency graciously gave your attention to the first edition of this work. To that same attention I now dedicate this second edition. With it I also hand over every other concern of my literary calling. I remain, with the deepest respect,
Your Excellency’s most humble and obedient servant, Königsberg, April 23rd, 1787 Immanuel Kant
About this section
Front matter is part of Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant. This page sets the German original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is part 1 of 7 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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