ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Immanuel Kant's metaphorical use of architecture and its underlying assumptions, notably about what architecture is basically about and what homely dwelling consists of. The 'feeling' evoked by Kant of being affected by the violation of human rights in a part of the world is increasingly facilitated by global networks of communication. Kant refuses to define the limits of human nature once and for all. Architects are especially well-placed to understand the stakes of Kant's critical enquiry. Nevertheless, the discipline of architecture has often been relegated by philosophers to a sub- or almost-art form because of its accountability to 'usefulness'. Architectural theories and ideas are generally required to assume a more substantial form than other aesthetic disciplines. Kant advocated that 'cultural progress' entailed putting people's 'knowledge and skill' to the 'world's use', while not taking for granted what 'usefulness' is. The chapter considers his comparison between the house and the tower.
