The Early Years of Retirement (1796–1798): “Somewhat Changed”

Jachmann, who lived outside of Königsberg and who came only a few times a year to the city, was perhaps in the best position to observe changes in Kant that would have been more difficult to see for those who saw him daily, or almost daily. He wrote in 1804:

It is this tragedy that still needs to be told.

In the records of the university senate for the winter semester of 1796–97, the following entry could be found: “Immanuel Kant, Log. et Metaph. Prof. Ordin. Facult. Phil. Senior: ‘I did not give any lectures because of age and indisposition.’” An entry for the summer of 1797 read: “he could not lecture because of age and weakness,” and the one for the winter of 1797—98: “could not give lectures because of age and sickness.” These notes, written by Kant himself, show — at least indirectly — that he became incapable of teaching beginning in the summer of 1796, when he had to cut his lectures short. This was the very period during which Jachmann noticed the first signs of mental weakness.