<p>This article analyzes the reception of Immanuel Kant’s philosophy through an existential lens, focusing on the relationship with the Other as a distinct mode of being, recognizing the reality of another subject with ontological certainty. This shift from the self to the Other is fundamental to Kant’s ideas of enlightenment and maturity, forming the basis of his philosophy. Drawing on the work of Hannah Arendt, Onora O’Neill, and Agnes Heller, the study emphasizes the communicative and social dimensions of Kantian thought, highlighting intersubjectivity, practical reason and the role of the Other in moral maturity and independent thinking. The main issue of this article is the analysis of the relevance of Kant’s concept of adulthood in the context of the contemporary approach to the Other, using an empirical survey of students as a basis for analysis. The results show that young people mainly associate maturity with pragmatic factors, such as independent living, housekeeping and employment, rather than with Kant’s ideals of rationality and self-control. The role of the Other as a critical, transcendental figure has diminished and has been replaced by an egocentric perspective that views the Other either as an extension of the self or as a reference group. While Kant’s idea of independent, critical thinking remains relevant, it is now primarily viewed as a practical skill for verifying information and avoiding manipulation rather than as a fundamental cognitive ability. The study confirms a paradigm shift in the conceptualization of maturity from moral obligation and submission to autonomy, self-reliance and self-focus, which echoes the observations of the contemporary “achievement-subject” made by philosopher Byung-Chul Han.</p>