Studying the history of philosophy, we learn an interesting fact: it turns out that Immanuel Kant was born and died in Königsberg. But this city, which previously belonged to East Prussia, is now within the Russian Federation and is called Kaliningrad. This means that the grave of Kant, the founder of German classical philosophy, is located within the borders of our fatherland. It's a sin not to take advantage of this fact and not visit Kaliningrad. But how to find traces of an outstanding philosopher in a modern city? Our article will help you with this. And the city itself on numerous islands is worth a visit. At different times, he bore the names of Krulevets, Königsberg, Kaliningrad. But above all, it was and remains Kant's hometown and resting place.
Biography of the great philosopher
Immanuel Kant was born on the twenty-second of April 1724 in a rather prosperous family of a craftsman who made saddles. Sufficiently high income of the father allowed the boy to study inthe prestigious Friedrichs-Kollegium gymnasium, and subsequently enter the University of Königsberg. But then his father dies, and Emmanuel Kant is forced to quit his studies. To support the family, he begins to teach. It was at this time that he traveled outside his native city for the first time. Kant served as a home teacher. During this period, the young scientist developed a hypothesis of the origin of the solar system, which has not lost its relevance to our time. The publication of this work made it possible for Kant to defend his dissertation. The doctoral degree qualified him to become a professor. From 1770 to 1797, the scientist taught physical, mathematical and philosophical disciplines at the university of his native city. It is said that all these twenty-nine years Kant took the same route from home to work. The respected scientist died on the twelfth of February 1804. Kant's grave was the last in the professorial crypt of the Königsberg Cathedral.
Contribution to world philosophy
Judging by the years of his life, the scientist belonged to the Enlightenment. However, Kant was ahead of his time. When the French Revolution broke out (1789), the joy of change reached the small town in East Prussia. Everyone planted "freedom trees". However, Kant remained unperturbed. “The greatest revolutionary is me,” according to legend, he once said. And he was right. His works Critique of Pure Reason (on epistemology), Critique of Practical Reason (on ethics) and Critique of Judgment (on aesthetics) revolutionized European philosophy. It can be said that without the teachings of Kant, the conclusions of Hegel, Marx and many other German thinkers would not have existed. This man brought the philosophy of the spirit to a new level. Therefore, the grave of Immanuel Kant in Kaliningrad remains a place of pilgrimage.
Funeral
The death of a philosopher of such magnitude stirred up the entire scientific world, but also his hometown, because Kant was known in Königsberg to both old and young. His punctuality was legendary. According to the professor who went for a walk, the townspeople checked their watches. Therefore, access to the body of the deceased for parting lasted for sixteen days. The coffin was carried at the funeral by twenty-four of the university's brightest students. They were followed by the officers of the Königsberg garrison, followed by a huge crowd of citizens. Initially, Kant's grave was located in the old professorial tomb, which adjoined the northern side of the Cathedral. This majestic building, made in the B altic Gothic style, was at first the main Catholic church, and then became a Lutheran one. An inscription was carved on the grave: “Immanuel Kant. Here lies one of the world's greatest philosophers.”
Kant's modern grave in Kaliningrad
The photo of the tomb is somewhat inconsistent with our previous story. The fact is that in 1809 the professorial chapel fell into disrepair and was demolished. In its place, a gallery was laid at the outer northern wall of the cathedral. She bore the name of the great philosopher - "Standing Kantian." This building stood until 1880. ToOn the bicentennial anniversary of the philosopher (1924), Kant's grave turned into a memorial. The project was developed by the architect Friedrich Lars, the main donor - Hugo Stinnes. The memorial is an open hall with columns that surround the cenotaph - a stone coffin. This is a symbolic sarcophagus, the remains of the philosopher are not buried in it, but under the slabs of the temple. The style of the memorial is strikingly different from the entire decoration of the Cathedral.
Events of World War II
Königsberg fascists surrendered with difficulty. Fierce bloody battles were going on outside the city. In August 1944, the British bombed Koenigsberg from the air. Then, in April 1945, a massive Soviet offensive began. As a result of these battles, the city streets resembled a lunar landscape. There was no longer a Cathedral, no memorial columned hall. But Kant's grave (photos of those years testify to this) has been preserved in a more or less satisfactory condition. And the townspeople saw this as a sign - Königsberg would still rise from the ashes.
State Protected Object
So, the city turned into Kaliningrad and became part of the Soviet Union. However, the government of the "sixth of the land" only in 1960 remembered that Emmanuel Kant was buried in the former Königsberg. The grave of the philosopher (tombstone and portico) was declared by Decree No. 1327 of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR "an object of cultural significance of the Kaliningrad region of the federal level." This clumsy wording meant that from now on, funds would be allocated for the restoration of the monument. The grave was last repaired in 1996. It still adjoins the northeast corner of the Cathedral from its outer side. The columns surrounding it have also been restored.
Kant's Roads
Of course, it is naive to expect that after so many years and wars, the house in which the founder of German classical philosophy was born and lived will be preserved. But the place where this building stood is known. If you are to explore Kaliningrad in search of Kant, you need to start in it. This is house number 40-A on Leninsky Prospekt. There is a memorial plaque there. Opposite the native home of the philosopher in 1864, a bronze monument to Kant was erected. It was cast in Berlin. In 1885 the monument was moved to the Paradenplatz. It was lost after the war. But in 1992 it was restored from old photographs. Now the monument to the philosopher stands in the square along Universitetskaya Street. Where is Kant's grave? Wherever and always. It is adjacent from the outside to the Cathedral. And the main temple of the city is located on the island of Kneiphof.
Symbol of the city
Kaliningrad, despite all the efforts of the authorities to depersonalize it and give it the appearance of a gray "soviet", managed to retain its European charm. Islands, openwork bridges, a Gothic cathedral make you feel comfortable here. Kneiphof stands out in this regard. In translation, it means "Courtyard of restaurants." The city's we althy once lived here. As soon as a person acquires money, he already dreamed of settling on Kneiphof. There were many beautiful houses on the first floorscafes and restaurants. The charm of the island was emphasized by the large Cathedral, which adjoins the tomb of Kant. In Kaliningrad, a photo of this memorial complex is often used as a "visiting card" of the city.
