Joseph Green (1727 – 27 June 1786) was an English merchant who became the "best friend" of

Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant (born Emanuel Kant; 22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804) was a German Philosophy, philosopher and one of the central Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment thinkers. Born in Königsberg, Kant's comprehensive and systematic works ...

Biography

Green was born in

Kingston upon Hull Kingston upon Hull, usually shortened to Hull, is a historic maritime city and unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It lies upon the River Hull at its confluence with the Humber Est ...

. He settled in

Königsberg Königsberg (; ; ; ; ; ; , ) is the historic Germany, German and Prussian name of the city now called Kaliningrad, Russia. The city was founded in 1255 on the site of the small Old Prussians, Old Prussian settlement ''Twangste'' by the Teuton ...

, Germany, and traded grains, coal, herring, and manufactured goods. Around 1752 Green hired Robert Motherby who also came from Hull as his assistant. Motherby later became his business partner and successor. Green never married. It is not known when exactly Green became Kant's friend, but it was in 1763 or before according to a

champagne glass A champagne glass is stemware designed for champagne and other sparkling wines. The two most common forms are the flute and coupe, both stemmed; holding the glass by the stem prevents warming the drink. Champagne can also be drunk from a norma ...

inscribed with their names and some other friends' names. Green shared with Kant a deep appreciation of the ideas of

David Hume David Hume (; born David Home; – 25 August 1776) was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist who was best known for his highly influential system of empiricism, philosophical scepticism and metaphysical naturalism. Beg ...

and

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau (, ; ; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Republic of Geneva, Genevan philosopher (''philosophes, philosophe''), writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment through ...

, in addition, Green could provide a perspective on the outside world that was helpful for Kant. Meeting on a regular basis, Kant discussed his work with him, including every sentence of his "

Critique of Pure Reason The ''Critique of Pure Reason'' (; 1781; second edition 1787) is a book by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, in which the author seeks to determine the limits and scope of metaphysics. Also referred to as Kant's "First Critique", it was foll ...

" prior to the 1781 publication. Kant also entrusted Green with his money. Kant, who did not travel far beyond Königsberg, sent Green to visit

Emanuel Swedenborg Emanuel Swedenborg (; ; born Emanuel Swedberg; (29 January 168829 March 1772) was a Swedish polymath; scientist, engineer, astronomer, anatomist, Christian theologian, philosopher, and mysticism, mystic. He became best known for his book on the ...

and check his health as Kant had doubts about his mental state. Green's sense of order and resulting pedantic punctuality inspired Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel to write a comedy: ''Der Mann nach der Uhr''. This sense of order, regularity, and punctuality also had an effect on Kant. Kuehn remarks that "Green's effect upon Kant cannot be overestimated." Green's death in 1786 deeply affected Kant.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Green, Joseph 1727 births 1786 deaths Immanuel Kant Businesspeople from Kingston upon Hull Businesspeople from Königsberg 18th-century English merchants Immigrants to the Kingdom of Prussia British emigrants