Immanuel Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason is a monumental work that delves into the very core of human understanding and knowledge. Published in 1781, with a second edition in 1787, this philosophical treatise doesn't just critique existing systems, but conducts a critical inquiry into reason itself, exploring its capabilities and limitations when venturing beyond the realm of experience. Kant’s ambition is to determine whether metaphysics is even possible and to establish the boundaries of human cognition. He seeks to uncover the principles that guide our understanding, not through empirical observation, but by examining reason's own structure and operations.