From 1774 to about 1800, there were three intense philosophical and theological controversies underway in Germany, namely: Fragments Controversy, the Pantheism Controversy, and the Atheism Controversy.  Kant’s essay translated here is Kant’s respond to the Pantheism Controversy.  During this period (1770-1800), there was the Sturm und Drang (Storm and Urge (stress)) movement with thinkers like Johann Hamann, Johann Herder, Friedrich Schiller, and Johann Goethe; who were against the cultural movement of the Enlightenment (Aufklärung). Kant was on the side of Enlightenment (see his Answer the Question: What is Enlightenment? 1784).

Table of Contents

Translator’s Short Preface for Historical Context (pages 3-4).
Immanuel Kant’s Text translated into English (pages 5-22).
Translator’s Remarks (pages 23-24).
Notes and Background for Kant’s essay and translation (page 25).
Earlier translations from German into English of Kant’s essay (page 26).
Pantheism Controversy (Quarrel) (Pantheismusstreit) (pages 27-28).
Chronology of the Pantheism Controversy (Quarrel) (pages 29-37).
   Main Philosophers and authors. Ranked by birth year.       
   Lessing first quarrel. Fragments Controversy.
   Pantheism Controversy or Pantheism Quarrel starts.
   Atheism Controversy.

What is the Purpose of Kant’s Orientation Essay? (pages 38-42).
Selected Bibliography related to Pantheism Controversy (pages 42-43).
Related Online Resources (pages 43-44).
Kant’s Note on his Overall Philosophical Position (pages 45-47).
Dedication and Acknowledgements (pages 48-49).
Appendix A. Image of first page of Kant Essay (1786) (pages 49-51).
Keyword index (pages 51-83). Starts with a green page.