No one before or after Kant, except Sartre, wrote a philosophical book called ‘Critique.’ Kant chose this title to criticize all his predecessors. The negative connotation was also in his mind. He wanted to make reason ‘pure’ and ensure that no experience or sensation would introduce itself into reason’s thinking. The word may have been suggested to him. Kant discovered that the faculty of reason leads people astray, not tradition or authority. Critique, therefore, means an attempt to discover the sources and limits of reason. Kant believed that it meant laying down a complete plan to guarantee the completeness and certainty of the structure in all its parts.
Critique stands in a twofold opposition to dogmatic metaphysics on the one hand and skepticism on the other. Humans are prone to use critical thinking and succumb to neither. It is not a preparation for a new business but a new way of thinking. It is not as though the seemingly negative business of critique could be followed by the seemingly positive business of system making. According to Kant, this was another dogmatism. He believed philosophy had become critical in the age of criticism and enlightenment.
It is an old concern of philosophy to think critically and to blaze the trail of thought through prejudices and unexamined opinions and beliefs. Kant was aware of it since he wished to proceed and silence all objectors using Socrates’ method. His methods consisted in emptying his partners of all unfounded beliefs and fantasies. According to Plato, he did this through the art of kinesin, which involves separating and distinguishing. Socrates believed that no knowledge follows the examination. Kant discovered that the only rule that holds away overthinking is the rule of consistency, which was later called the axiom of non-contradiction.
Critical thinking exposes itself to the test of free and open examination, meaning the more people participate in it, the better. Communicability implies a community of men that can be addressed and listened to. According to Kant, enlightenment means thinking for oneself. Kant also clarified that critical thinking does not involve knowing what is in someone else’s mind; it is thinking for oneself. Through critical thinking, one can arrive at a ‘general standpoint.’ Kant refers to it as the ‘viewpoint from which to look upon, watch, form judgment’ and reflect on human affairs. Kant clearly states that a general standpoint does not dictate how one should act or apply the wisdom attained from the general standpoint to political affairs. It is merely a perception caused after evaluating variables and coming up with the final agreement or conclusion.