How can we live together? Kant took the freedom of the individual as his starting point. This freedom can only exist if it is secured by a state under the rule of law in which all have equal rights. Kant called such a form of government a “republic.” In this way, he formulated the principle of modern constitutions. Today Kant is regarded as one of the most important modern political thinkers.
Unlike the democratic revolutions in the USA and in France, Kant did not draft a catalogue of human rights. Instead, he identified three fundamental principles: freedom, equality, and independence.