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Because it is one of the most important works in the history of philosophy. Kant is a key figure for understanding modern philosophy.
His philosophical system, presented primarily in the Critique of Pure Reason, marked the end of classical rationalism (Descartes-Spinoza-Leibniz) and empiricism (Bacon – Newton – Hume) and made an impressive attempt to create a new philosophical system that combines their advantages and overcomes their shortcomings.
This philosophical system has rather ambiguous conclusions that have become the subject of philosophical discussions in the last 200 + years, in particular, it assumes the impossibility of knowing the true reality (“things-in-themselves”). In attempts to overcome these problems, the philosophy of Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel was born, the development of Kantian ideas gave rise to neo-Kantianism (Rickert, Cassirer, and others), and on American soil it became the foundation of American transcendentalism (Emerson, Thoreau). None of these areas of philosophy will be fully understood if one does not understand the problems formulated by Kant, about which their representatives reflect. And by inheritance from them, many later trends will not be understood.
But if this is not enough, then beyond the history of philosophy, Kant's ideas reflected in the Critique of Pure Reason today determine research in such areas as neurophysiology, since the modern view of the perception process was largely formed under the influence of Kant's ideas, which played a huge, decisive role in the formation of psychology at the turn of the XIX – XX centuries and from there In physics, Kant's ideas are probably still not fully understood, but even here there are texts that begin to reflect seriously on Kantian ideas (for example, Lanza and Berman's “Biocentrism”).
In general, it is worth reading Kant's Critique of Pure Reason to understand this whole array of cultural ideas, as well as to question some of the postulates about physical reality that we mistakenly accept as self-evident.
Yes, this is a very good job, which opens a lot of doors for people. The only difficulty is that this philosophical work is quite difficult to understand, the essence is not stated in simple language, but when the text is reflected in you, you understand how much you have learned by reading the critique of pure reason. However, it is necessary to get acquainted with all the works of Kant.
Reading any philosophical text in the absence of clearly understood questions, the answers to which you want to get-like entering an endless maze.
“It is only later that the original thinker becomes acquainted with writers who are authoritative for his opinions, who then serve him to confirm his thoughts and for their own reinforcement; whereas the book philosopher sets out, proceeds from them, arranging for himself a whole from the opinions of others that are read out, which is likened to an automaton made up of someone else's material; the worldview of the former, on the contrary, For it is the fruit borne and born, conceived as a result of the influence of the external world on the thinking spirit.”
Arthur Schopenhauer
Before answering the question “why”, you should answer the questions “can I understand what he writes about”, “why I wanteddecidedintend” and “what I want to get in the end”.
If you are chasing the creativity of Ala “I am smart, because I am interested in philosophy, I am all an intellectual”, then do not flatter yourself and read Dontsov better. Many girls read it and they are far from stupid girls, they behave naturally feminine and they are interested in women's things – this is the norm, but doho smart ladies are often stupid. I'm serious! To get to know the world and human thought well enough, you don't have to learn a lot of philosophy, especially German philosophy. I would say that this is even generally harmful in most cases. You would also ask about Feuerbach, but he, by the way, is much more difficult to perceive than Kant and Nietzsche combined. I had to re-read the same sentence several times, so as not to lose the author's idea. And almost all sentences are complex and take up 5 lines in the text. My brain must have literally started to boil. Still, I began to understand German philosophy after I graduated from the Institute.
Now to Kant's understanding. In my first year, I tried to read Kant, which I shouldn't have done, and I'm even a little ashamed of my naivete and stupidity. I don't understand a damn thing. In addition, it should be taken into account that the original language is German, and the manner of reproducing thoughts among German philosophers is rather monotonous, slow and complex. They literally chew everything down to the smallest detail. You start to get lost in the little things, and when you get to the bottom of it, you don't have the energy to think. In addition, to understand the terminology of German philosophy, you need to already have a certain amount of knowledge. This body of knowledge needs to be drawn from the 1st ancient philosophy (by the way ,it doesn't hurt to arm yourself with the knowledge of mythology, too), the 2nd is medieval Christian philosophy (theology / theology; Thomism, scholasticism), the 3rd Renaissance thinkers and, in addition, Kant's contemporaries. It is clear that this is A LOT. In your coursework (and in your thesis, too) I have repeatedly referred to Kant's thoughts. As a result, even now, two years after graduating from the Institute, I have only just begun to understand what Kant writes about and what I have doubts that I really understand him. I have no doubt that the majority of philosophy graduates don't understand it at all. There is a very high probability that you will join their ranks if you start reading Kant.
So, if you still started reading Kant, then think about whether this reading will help you in life, whether this knowledge will help you and whether you will get to know the world around you, people and yourself better in the end? This is doubtful!
In any case, I wish you every success in your knowledge of German philosophy. Maybe I'm wrong in my suspicions. I can advise you the following: Before you dig into the primary sources, it is better to read some university textbooks on the course of philosophy (general) and the course of German philosophy. There are plenty of textbooks and lecture courses. It is quite possible that this baggage of general lectures (retelling the main ideas) will be enough for you. You will save your nerves, energy, health and most importantly-time, and at the same time satisfy your curiosity, if it really exists and this is not a blind pursuit of “intellectualism”.
Well, here's a final picture, although it's about Nietzsche, but it also fits Kant in context:) �