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Final Draft Jury Freedom in Conflict On Kant’s Critique of Medical Reason Jonas Gerlings Thesis submitted for assessment with a view to obtaining the degree of Doctor of History and Civilization of the European University Institute Florence, 24 February 2017. European University Institute Department of History and Civilization Freedom in Conflict On Kant’s Critique of Medical Reason Jonas Gerlings Thesis submitted for assessment with a view to obtaining the degree of Doctor of History and Civilization of the European University Institute Examining Board Prof. Dr. Martin van Gelderen, EUI, Lichtenberg-Kolleg – The Göttingen Institute for Advanced Study (Supervisor) Dr. Dr. h.c. Hans Erich Bödeker, Lichtenberg-Kolleg – The Göttingen Institute for Advanced Study Prof. Stéphane Van Damme, European University Institute Senior Lecturer, Dr. Avi Lifschitz, UCL © Jonas Gerlings, 2016 No part of this thesis may be copied, reproduced or transmitted without prior permission of the author Researcher declaration to accompany the submission of written work Department of History and Civilization - Doctoral Programme I Jonas Gerlings certify that I am the author of the work Freedom in Conflict – Kant’s Critique of Medical Reason I have presented for examination for the Ph.D. at the European University Institute. I also certify that this is solely my own original work, other than where I have clearly indicated, in this declaration and in the thesis, that it is the work of others. I warrant that I have obtained all the permissions required for using any material from other copyrighted publications. I certify that this work complies with the Code of Ethics in Academic Research issued by the European University Institute (IUE 332/2/10 (CA 297). The copyright of this work rests with its author. Quotation from it is permitted, provided that full acknowledgement is made. This work may not be reproduced without my prior written consent. This authorisation does not, to the best of my knowledge, infringe the rights of any third party. I declare that this work consists of 81.538 words. Statement of language correction: This thesis has been corrected for linguistic and stylistic errors. I certify that I have checked and approved all language corrections, and that these have not affected the content of this work. Signature and date: ___________________________ 02/01-2017 Jonas Gerlings Freedom in Conflict Kant’s Critique of Medical Reason Abstract This thesis undertakes a double task by on the one hand analysing 18th century medicine within the context of Immanuel Kant’s work and on the other hand analysing Kant’s work within the context of 18th century medicine. Drawing on a series of Kant’s writings on medicine, often discarded as marginal, his work is re-located within the context of 18th century medical reforms and scientific revolutions. Focusing on the initial conflation between 18th century medicine and philosophy the thesis traces the growing disciplinary distinctions between the two in their rivalling views on the science of man. By focusing on the changing attitudes towards his own long lasting engagement with medicine, it is demonstrated how Kant becomes increasingly self-critical. It is argued that Kant’s philosophy is developed as a critical reflection of a growing medicalization of human life, which fails to perceive man as a free agent. 2 3 Abstract .................................................................................................................................................... 2! Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ 6! Notes on the text: ................................................................................................................................... 8! An Introduction to the Art of Prolonging the Life of the Mind ................................................. 10! Organizing thoughts ....................................................................................................................................... 13! What is Enlightenment? ................................................................................................................................ 17! Kant and the constitution of modern philosophy ..................................................................................... 26! Notes on how to (re)orientate oneself in Kant’s thinking ....................................................................... 29! Structure: ........................................................................................................................................................... 33! Understanding Life .............................................................................................................................. 36! Arrival ................................................................................................................................................................ 36! Institutional Reforms ..................................................................................................................................... 40! Influencing Minds ............................................................................................................................................ 44! Kant: a free-thinker in the Republic of Letters ......................................................................................... 56! Measuring the Soul ......................................................................................................................................... 59! Negative Magnitudes ...................................................................................................................................... 63! Method and Madness ........................................................................................................................... 70! The Perfect Child ............................................................................................................................................ 70! Der Arzt: changing lives. .............................................................................................................................. 74! Gnothi Seauton: From Observations to Reflections: ............................................................................... 79! “Doctors of the understanding“ .................................................................................................................... 81! Dreams ............................................................................................................................................................... 87! Awakening: ........................................................................................................................................................ 92! Revolution and Reform ....................................................................................................................... 96! Appointments ................................................................................................................................................... 96! Dissertation ...................................................................................................................................................... 98! Kant as Educator .......................................................................................................................................... 100! Philosophers and Physicians ...................................................................................................................... 103! Metaphysics of Metaphysics ...................................................................................................................... 106! Genealogy of the Body ................................................................................................................................ 110! 4 Transcendental Freedom ............................................................................................................................ 114! Conflicting Minds ......................................................................................................................................... 118! On the Philosopher’s Medicine of the Body ........................................................................................... 122! Matters of Taste ................................................................................................................................. 126! “…the True Metaphysicks of Life is Good Eating and Drinking.” .................................................... 126! Commercial Natures .................................................................................................................................... 130! Placing Man in the Scheme of Things ..................................................................................................... 135! Technique, teleology, and taste ................................................................................................................ 141! Making Ends Meet ....................................................................................................................................... 146! “And so the meal ends with laughter…” .................................................................................................. 152! Freedom on Trial ...............................................................................................................................
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