Kant wrote the Critique of Pure Reason but was hugely misunderstood. The two prefaces to this book attempt to clarify. The second preface is longer and elaborates on some thoughts highlighted in the first preface. These two prefaces present many differences, including the unity of reason and experience and how reason can progress without experience. This short essay focuses on Kant's position on metaphysics in both prefaces, focusing on the main differences. Kant addresses the question of metaphysics in his two prefaces to the Critique of Pure Reason. In the first preface, metaphysics is described as "the queen of all sciences" (Kant 1). These images are heavily influenced by the time Kant lived in as many European countries had monarchical governments. Just as a queen is the most influential figure in a monarchical country, metaphysics, in Kant's time, takes on this elevated role in philosophical pursuits, and other fields have subordinate roles. Thus, the image of the queen undoubtedly implies that metaphysics has an important role to play and that other fields of study have subordinate roles. However, the "queen's" empire fell due to her firm grip on the dogmatism, anarchy and skepticism that reigned from within. Dogmatism can easily be equated with reductionism because it takes one aspect of reality and uses it to represent the whole of reality. In this case, dogmatic is the one who presupposes and proceeds on the assumption that human reason can understand ultimate reality. Dogmatism manifests itself through rationalism, realism and transcendence. In rationalism it is possible to determine the ultimate nature of God, the soul and the cosmos from pure a priori principles. Dogmatism states that knowledge arises independently of the former... medium of paper..."which ultimately requires that one act only according to principles that are in themselves suitable to be universal law" (68). This determines the will and freedom of a moral agent. Endowed with will, rational beings make things happen in the world through their will. A free will in the positive sense must determine itself, it must act according to a law that is given, a law of freedom. This is exactly what it means to be autonomous, and therefore to recognize oneself as subject to the categorical imperative" (80). Kant develops his argument to show the importance of metaphysics and reason. Despite its limitations, the practical use of reason allows the moral agent to operate freely by participating in the moral world, helping to make the world as it should be. Reason has a practical aspect which is articulated in the categorical imperative.