Hans Driesch on Kant’s Teleology

Abstract

The paper is focused on the Hans Driesch’s interpretation of the teleology which Kant presents in his texts. The philosopher of Königsberg indeed makes impression on the readers of his Critic of the Teleological Potency of Judgeing to be a vitalist. Hans Driesch, sceptic about that, gave this matter careful consideration. He analysed the relevant texts and realised that in fact Kant is not a vitalist at all, but rather a mechanicist. According to Kant’s view the living organisms act statically, not dynamically but, as he says, only human beings act really in the very teleological way and the other living creatures act in fact like machines. Therefore Hans Driesch warns the readers of Kant’s texts against the misleading understanding.