On Kant's Philosophy Of History From The Perspective Of Teleology

Teleology is not only a traditional topic, but also at the same time, is a nuclear issue in Kant' s philosophy, and a fundamental issue in Kant' s philosophy of history. In some extent, Kant' s philosophy of history is teleological, because Kant brings out his own philosophy of history based on teleology. There would no Kant' s philosophy of history at all without the consideration of teleology. In this article, the main concern is about Kant' s philosophy of history, and the author manages to form a connection between teleology and philosophy of history, which is the unique feature of the article. Besides the preface and epilogue, the whole article consists of another five parts, which forms the body of it. The main contents of those seven parts go as the following:In Preface, author makes an outline of different opinions about the importance of Kant' s philosophy of history, tells about the researching status on the topic both inside and outside of China, indicates the characteristic of the paper lying in its visual angle on Kant' s philosophy of history from teleology, brings out the topic on Kant' teleology by considering both the present social status and the status in Kant' time in the way of empathizing.In Chapter One, author etymologically analyzes the origin, meaning and the evolution of the word "teleology" . Two patterns of teleology before Kant' s time are concluded in this chapter, i.e. the nature teleology in ancient Greece and the divinity teleology in Middle Ages. Both belongs to the teleology in sense of substance, because both seek the aim of eternal substance and take it as the final end of consciousness in the outside world. Therefore it is impossible for the two patterns to leave any room for the real philosophy of history,In Chapter two, the author discusses the reason for Kant to advocate the teleology again that Kant tries to use the teleology to confront the conflict against metaphysics from the mechanism and the utilitarianism caused by the Enlightenment. Author excavates the direct theoretical sources of Kant' s teleology and establishes consanguinity between Kant' s teleology and Leibniz' s theodicy. The teleology impenetratesKant' s philosophy, especially his critique philosophy, therefore the teleological whole evolution in Kant' s critique philosophy is deliberately investigated in order to offer theoretical support to the birth of Kant' s teleology in Kant' s philosophy of history. Author educes the unique meaning of Kant' s teleology through the investigation about the teleology by critique philosophy and points out the differences between Kant' s teleology and the previous two patterns, concluding that Kant' s teleology is only a regulative principle but not a constructive principle. With this regulative principle, Kant emphasizes the functions in transcendental subjectivity and sociality, which paves the way to the emergence of philosophy of history.In Chapter Three, author analyzes the theoretical origin of Kant' s philosophy of history, and especially the reasons why Kant uses teleology to impenetrate his philosophy of history. Author points out that there is a same origin to which both the teleology in Kant' s philosophy of history and the one in his critique philosophy can be traced, and thinks that Kant' s original idea in putting out the teleology in his philosophy of history is a kind of expression of the idea of universality and totality on history and optimism in Enlightenment. Kant brings out the teleology in his philosophy of history in some sentimental sense. We can say that teleology is the incompatible intertexture of sentimentalism and progressivism. Of course Kant' s belief in progress of history could not be uprooted, which is the aim of the teleology. The teleology in Kant' s philosophy of history is just a negative idea, what it can do is at most to erect a transcendental aim for the history, but it does not interfere in the human affairs. So it needs the power from the humanity and the society to achieve the aim.In Chapter Four, author investigates...