It was a long journey from the son of a craftsman to the universally revered philosopher. He had to wait a long time for his professorship, and wrote his most important books only in later life. But Kant already wished early on to lead a self-determined life. The circumstances were favorable: his hometown of Königsberg and Prussia under King Frederick II “the Great” offered him the necessary freedom.
Kant consciously chose to lead a structured double life: at his desk, he was the precise scholar; at the dining table, the entertaining man of the world. Again and again, visitors who knew only his books were surprised by his wit. Kant separated work and life.
Four tables present this multifaceted Kant: a work table his origins and youth, a billiard table his private life, a writing table the learned philosopher, and a dining table the sociable friend.