About NAKS

The North American Kant Society (NAKS) was founded in 1985 at the Sixth International Kant Congress to foster the study of Kantian thought and scholarship within a variety of traditions and disciplines. The society aims to promote scholarship and research, the building of a global community, and the exchange of information for all those interested in Kant, whether researchers, teachers, or simply Kant enthusiasts, whatever their backgrounds.  We encourage the participation by those scholars, teachers and students in all relevant areas: philosophers, political scientists, literary scholars, historians, scholars of religion, etc.  Our aim is to build an inclusive organization that fosters belonging and allyship regardless of background.  While primarily centered in North America, NAKS welcomes members from all areas of the globe. 

Participation in NAKS-sponsored events requires membership.   Being a member of NAKS also directly supports our efforts to benefit the Kantian community.

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.
  
  
• Plurality and Community Committee. The purpose of the Plurality and Community Committee is to advise the Executive Committee on ways in which the North American Kant Society can embody a pluralistic community — how NAKS can be more welcoming to a broader range of persons interested in Kant scholarship than has historically been represented in the field, open-minded with respect to what counts as important and as methodologically sound, and how NAKS can promote a more inclusive attitude among its members.
  

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.

History

The North American Kant Society was founded in 1985 at the Sixth International Kant Congress, held at the Pennsylvania State University.  Hoke Robinson founded and served as the first president of NAKS. Karl Ameriks, Sharon Anderson-Gold, Richard Aquila, Patricia Kitcher, Pauline Kleingeld, Robert Louden, Pablo Muchnik, Nelson Potter, and Rachel Zuckert have also served as presidents. Past vice presidents include Michelle Grier, Jane Kneller, Pablo Muchnik, Oliver Sensen, Helga Varden, Eric Watkins, Günter Zöller, and Huaping Lu-Adler.

Our bibliographers have been Manfred Kuehn, Felicitas Munzel, and Steve Naragon.

Constitution

Click here to view NAKS's constitution, which was last updated in June 2020.