Kant on Enthusiasm

Kant’s theory of enthusiasm has received relatively little attention in Kant studies. This is surprising in view of the fact that Kant was preoccupied with the theme of enthusiasm throughout his life. One of the reasons may be that for Kant enthusiasm is an affect. Therefore, it cannot be used to justify ethics. On closer examination, however, a more differentiated picture emerges. In addition to pathological enthusiasm, Kant recognises an aesthetically sublime enthusiasm, and in his reflections on the reaction to the events of the French Revolution, Kant coined the concept of a true enthusiasm, related to the ideas of freedom and justice. Finally, Kant introduces the concept of the enthusiasm of good resolution. It is a preliminary stage of the feeling of respect for the moral law in moral education. It is no longer regarded as an affect, but is under the guidance of reason. The first part discusses the partly incompatible conceptions of enthusiasm. The second part examines Jean-François Lyotard’s interpretation and critique of Kant’s philosophical-historical theory of enthusiasm. In the face of the devastating catastrophes of the twentieth century, Lyotard sees no reason for the enthusiasm that Kant perceived in the people’s reaction to the French Revolution and interpreted as a prognostic sign of future history. It has been replaced by a general world-weariness. However, Lyotard’s critique of Kant is based on a historicist fallacy. The reference to historical catastrophes is not an argument against the a priori validity of the ideas of freedom and justice and against the endeavour for their realisation.