In his Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science (1786), Kant accounts for the possibility of an acting-at-a-distance gravitational force, demonstrates the infinite divisibility of matter, and derives analogues to Newtonian laws of motion. The work is his major statement in philosophy of science, and was especially influential in German-speaking countries in the nineteenth century. However, this complex text has not received the scholarly attention it deserves. The chapters of this Critical Guide clarify the accounts of matter, motion, the mathematization of nature, space, and natural laws exhibited in the Metaphysical Foundations; elucidate the relationship between its metaphysics of nature and Kant's critical philosophy; and describe the historical context for Kant's account of natural science. The volume will be an invaluable resource for understanding one of Kant's most difficult works, and will set the agenda for future scholarship on Kant's philosophy of science.

‘This book is ideally suited to scholars and advanced students who intend to be introduced to [Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science] in light of the most recent scholarship. It is also a must-read not only for those with a specific interest in Kant’s philosophy of nature but also for any Kant scholar in general, as it illuminates an important aspect and many assumptions of the first Critique.’

Kristina Engelhard Source: Journal of the History of Philosophy