Summary of Critique of Judgement

Critique of Judgement, by Immanuel Kant, is a critical analysis of the nature of judgement and its role in understanding both morality and aesthetics. Kant argues that judgement is a mental faculty that is distinct from reason and is necessary to allow us to make moral and aesthetic judgements. He further argues that judgement is a faculty of reflection, through which we can recognize the qualities of objects, and determine their value and worth. Kant divides judgement into three distinct sections: ‘judgement of aesthetics’, ‘judgement of morality’, and ‘judgement of teleology’. In each section, Kant discusses how judgement works in relation to the particular type of judgement in question. In relation to aesthetics, Kant argues that beauty is a subjective and personal experience, and that judgement is necessary for us to appreciate and understand the aesthetic qualities of objects. In relation to morality, Kant argues that judgements of right and wrong are ultimately based on our own individual beliefs and values, and that we must use judgement to determine what is right or wrong. Finally, in relation to teleology, Kant argues that judgement is necessary for us to recognize the order and purpose of things in the world. Kant concludes his work by arguing that in order for us to make valid judgments, we must be able to think for ourselves, and use judgement to determine what is true or false.