Emile Boutroux on Kant’s Philosophy

Abstract

This article precedes the publication of the Russian translation of the work by Emile Boutroux, a famous French spiritualist philosopher, epistemologist and historian of philosophy, “Kant’s Morals and Modernity”. The interpretation of Kant’s teachings proposed by Boutroux is considered. Based on some of Kant’s ideas and criticizing others, Boutroux sought to update meta - physics through reflection on science and scientific knowledge. Noting aspects of his concept that gave reason to attribute it to French neo-Kantianism, the author of the article also highlights significant points that are determined by Boutroux’s own philosophical position and do not allow him to be considered a faithful follower of the Königsberg thinker: the denial of dualism and the necessary nature of scientific knowledge.