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1 results

  • 7 - History and natural description of the most noteworthy occurrences of the earthquake that struck a large part of the Earth at the end of the year 1755 (1756)

  • Immanuel Kant
  • Edited by Eric Watkins, University of California, San Diego
  • Book:
    Kant: Natural Science
    Published online:
    05 November 2012
    Print publication:
    04 October 2012, pp 337-364

  • Summary

    In this essay, Kant presents a description of the Lisbon earthquake and the events surrounding it. The earthquake was preceded by a vapour rising into the air that turned red in the atmosphere and made the torrential rains that ensued blood-red as well. Kant describes the tsunami caused by the earthquake, its effects in distant places, its speed of transmission and extent as well as its influence on springs. He theorizes about what geographical features are most conducive to earthquakes and the directions of motion of an earthquake, speculating the connection between earthquakes and the seasons and the influence of earthquakes on atmospheric conditions as well as their potential uses. Kant concludes with a sketch of a theodicy, according to which man often inappropriately views himself rather than nature as a whole as the object of God's actions, and in addition, man is in no position to know God's intentions.