Kant’s intellectual heritage in the public spaces of Latvia

This article examines the reception and portrayal of Immanuel Kant’s (1724–1804) legacy in Latvia from 2011 to 2024, focusing on academic discourse, public debates, and commemorative activities. It explores historical connections, translations, scholarly research, and public commemorations through the lens of Pierre Bourdieu’s (1930–2002) theory of cultural and symbolic capital, illustrating how Kant’s legacy is contextualized and appropriated within Latvian intellectual traditions. The study examines Kant’s physical and symbolic presence in Latvian public spaces, such as monuments and plaques, highlighting the relationship between historical memory, cultural narratives, and myth-making. By providing a comprehensive account of Kant’s significance in Latvia, the study contributes to broader discussions on the integration of global intellectual heritage into national and local contexts.