La téléologie critique et ses paradigmes scientifiques Sur la méthode de l’Histoire selon Kant

Kant’s texts on history are often considered as minor or subsidiary by the interpreters concerned with philosophical systems whereas some of them qualify these writings as a “fourth critique”. The present paper defends the thesis that Kant’s critical intervention on the field of the historical reflections and practices of the 18th Century represents a decisive scientific turn. Whilst the idea of progress asserts itself against the two dominant paradigms of local history and Christian theodicy a critique of the notion of progress itself was necessary in order to establish the legitimacy of a science of history, provided that this would be possible. The scientific ideal which history had to aim at was constituted by three established models: astronomy, physics, and biology. The core and the instrument of this enterprise is the teleology. It is in the middle of the challenge because it is also the science of the living organisms. The difference between its “dogmatic” use in the natural sciences and the “critical” use in the historical science is therefore the anchor from which we can try to define Kant’s understanding of science in historical matters