Universal Natural History and Theory of the Heavens

What it is

This is an essay written and published anonymously by Immanuel Kant in 1755, applying Newtonian principles to explain the origin of the universe. Kant proposes that solar systems form when clouds of dust (nebulae) collapse into disks that become suns and planets, and argues that the Milky Way is just one of many galaxies.

Why it matters

Before he became known mainly as a philosopher, Kant worked seriously as a natural scientist, inspired by a review of astronomer Thomas Wright's work. His nebular hypothesis anticipated ideas later associated with scientists such as Pierre-Simon Laplace, and some of his guesses about rings of particles around planets proved close to correct. The book shows a young Kant engaging confidently with cutting-edge science of his time.

Look closer

• Why might Kant have published this work anonymously?
• What does this essay suggest about the relationship between philosophy and science in the 1700s?
• How does Kant's closing reflection on nature compare to his later philosophical writing?