The North American Kant Society (NAKS) was founded in 1985 at the Sixth International Kant Congress, held at the Pennsylvania State University. The goal of the Society is to further the study of Kantian thought and scholarship within a variety of traditions and disciplines.

We organize activities and prizes that aim to help students and scholars at different career stages interact and share their work in an atmosphere of cordiality and rigor. 

These are our main initiatives:

• Markus Herz Student Essay Prize.  Since 2000, this prize has been awarded annually to the best graduate student paper presented at one of our regional Study Group meetings.

• Wilfrid Sellars Junior Scholar Essay Prize.  This prize was first awarded in 2010. It is given annually for an essay on any topic that demonstrates the continued relevance of Kant’s philosophy.  The goal of the Sellars Prize is to provide recognition to and support for young scholars in the early stages of their careers. "Junior" is defined as fewer than ten years from the receipt of the PhD (or highest degree earned) on the day that submissions are due.
   
• NAKS Senior Scholar Prize.  This award represents the capstone of our architectonic system of prizes.  It is awarded for an outstanding article or book (article and book prizes offered on alternating years) that is concerned with any aspect of Kant's or Kantian thought.   "Senior" is defined as at least ten years from the receipt of the Ph.D. (or highest degree earned) on the day that nominations are due.
  
  
• Electronic Newsletter. Our quarterly newsletter is now electronic. Members can find current and prior issues in the "Members Only" section of the website.
  
  
• NAKS Regional Study Groups and Virtual NAKS.
  
  
• Bibliography. This has been complied and edited since 2010 by Steve Naragon, and is available to members on that part of the site.
  

Kantian philosophy and scholarship in North America are steadily growing in quality, quantity, and influence.  Our goal at NAKS is to support, promote, and celebrate this work.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any suggestions or concerns. We look forward to your participation in our Society.

Andrew Chignell, President-Secretary
Huaping Lu-Adler, Vice President