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Critique of Judgment

Immanuel Kant · 1790

Kant's 1790 work on beauty, the sublime, and purpose in nature, the third of his great Critiques and a founding text of modern aesthetics.

Kant's own third Critique, founding modern philosophical aesthetics through his theory of beauty and the sublime.

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Title page of the 1790 German edition of Kant's Critik der Urtheilskraft. Large black gothic-style heading 'Critik der Urtheilskraft', 'von Immanuel Kant', a vignette of a small figure and plant engraving, and imprint 'Berlin und Libau, bey Lagarde und Friederich, 1790'. Faint English title 'Critique of Judgment' appears in the background.
Immanuel Kant, Critik der Urtheilskraft, title page, 1790.

About this source

What it is

Published in 1790, this book by Immanuel Kant is the third of his Critical works, following the Critique of Pure Reason and the Critique of Practical Reason. It is divided into a study of aesthetic judgment (about beauty and the sublime) and teleological judgment (about purpose in nature).

Why it matters

Kant tries to explain how judgments of beauty differ from judgments about what is merely pleasant or morally good, arguing that taste involves a distinctive kind of reflection. This book became a founding text of modern aesthetics and philosophy of art, shaping how later thinkers discussed beauty, nature and purpose.

Look closer

  • Why might Kant think judging something beautiful is different from simply finding it enjoyable?
  • What does it mean to call this a 'critique' of judgment, following his earlier critiques of reason?
  • How might Kant's ideas about beauty and nature connect to debates in his time about science and design in nature?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Immanuel Kant on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Title page of the 1781 first edition of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. Blackletter title reads Critik der reinen Vernunft, von Immanuel Kant, Professor in Königsberg. Below: Riga, verlegts Johann Friedrich Hartknoch, 1781, with a floral wreath ornament.Book

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Critique of Pure Reason

Immanuel Kant · 1781 (revised 1787)

Printed page in German blackletter type headed 'Beantwortung der Frage: Was ist Aufklärung?' with the opening lines of Kant's essay, beginning 'Aufklärung ist der Ausgang des Menschen aus seiner selbst verschuldeten Unmündigkeit.' Page footer reads '2ter Band'.Book

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Answering the Question: What Is Enlightenment?

Immanuel Kant · 1784

Title page of Kant's Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten, printed in black Fraktur blackletter: 'Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten, von Immanuel Kant', with a decorative rococo ornament, a rule, and 'Riga, bey Johann Friedrich Hartknoch 1785' on a cream page.Book

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Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals

Immanuel Kant · 1785

Title page of Kant's 'Zum ewigen Frieden' printed in black Fraktur type. Text reads 'Zum ewigen Frieden. Ein philosophischer Entwurf von Immanuel Kant', with publication line 'Königsberg, bey Friedrich Nicolovius, 1795' at the bottom.Book

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Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch

Immanuel Kant · 1795

Title page of the 1788 German edition of Kant's Critique of Practical Reason: 'Critik der practischen Vernunft von Immanuel Kant', with a floral wreath ornament, 'Riga, bey Johann Friedrich Hartknoch 1788', and a purple library stamp at bottom right.Book

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Critique of Practical Reason

Immanuel Kant · 1788 (completed 1787)

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