The hidden influence on Kant: Pope’s presence inKant’s life and oeuvre

Abstract

Midst of the recently growing attention and importance that poetry is gaining in the Studia Kantiana there is a hidden influence on Kant that this article unveils: Alexander Pope’s presence throughout Kants life and the influence of his Essay on Man on Kant’s philosophy. The relation between Kant and Pope is clarified based upon comparative examples of both works and their commentators, targeting specially Pope’s direct mentions; personal reference from Kant to Pope will be used to reassure the sizeof his admiration and therefore his subjective predisposition to be influenced by. The article unfolds proving that A) Kant had contact with the poem before even publishing his first article in 1746; B) there is sufficient evidence to confirm its direct influence on the initial phase of Kants work; C) Pope’s presence can be tracked throughout Kant’s life as an unshakeable and steady estate of personal reference; and that D) Popes mentions are equally distributed throughout Kants entire work. The paper concludes an undeniable and yet neglected influence of Pope on Kant and argues for an approach of Kant’s philosophy as a progressive andinterconnected whole based on a plan to combat human’s pride