Advertisement
kant metaphysics of morals: Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals Immanuel Kant, 2008-10-01 Immanuel Kant’s Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals is one of the most important texts in the history of ethics. In it Kant searches for the supreme principle of morality and argues for a conception of the moral life that has made this work a continuing source of controversy and an object of reinterpretation for over two centuries. This new edition of Kant’s work provides a fresh translation that is uniquely faithful to the German original and more fully annotated than any previous translation. There are also four essays by well-known scholars that discuss Kant’s views and the philosophical issues raised by the Groundwork. J.B. Schneewind defends the continuing interest in Kantian ethics by examining its historical relation both to the ethical thought that preceded it and to its influence on the ethical theories that came after it; Marcia Baron sheds light on Kant’s famous views about moral motivation; and Shelly Kagan and Allen W. Wood advocate contrasting interpretations of Kantian ethics and its practical implications. |
kant metaphysics of morals: The Metaphysic of Ethics Immanuel Kant, 1836 |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant's Metaphysics of Morals Lara Denis, 2010-10-28 Immanuel Kant's Metaphysics of Morals (1797), containing the Doctrine of Right and Doctrine of Virtue, is his final major work of practical philosophy. Its focus is not rational beings in general but human beings in particular, and it presupposes and deepens Kant's earlier accounts of morality, freedom and moral psychology. In this volume of newly-commissioned essays, a distinguished team of contributors explores the Metaphysics of Morals in relation to Kant's earlier works, as well as examining themes which emerge from the text itself. Topics include the relation between right and virtue, property, punishment, and moral feeling. Their diversity of questions, perspectives and approaches will provide new insights into the work for scholars in Kant's moral and political theory. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant's 'Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals' Jens Timmermann, 2009-12-24 This volume discusses Kant's philosophical development in the Groundwork and his attempt to justify the categorical imperative as a principle of freedom. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant: The Metaphysics of Morals Immanuel Kant, 2017-10-12 Covers key philosophical, interpretive and textual issues, including an extensive further reading essay and translation notes. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals Immanuel Kant, 2023-09-11 Reproduction of the original. The publishing house Megali specialises in reproducing historical works in large print to make reading easier for people with impaired vision. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant's Metaphysics of Morals Mark Timmons, 2002-03-07 Studies of Kant's moral and political philosophy have increasingly focused on his last major work in ethics, The Metaphysics of Morals. This work is here discussed in seventeen essays by leading contemporary Kant scholars, most of them specially written for this volume. They cover a broad range of topics, including Kant's views on rights, punishment, contract, practical reasoning, revolution, freedom, virtue, legislation, happiness, moral judgement, love, respect, duties to oneself, and motivation. This is the only book devoted entirely to The Metaphysics of Morals and is not just a landmark in Kant studies but also a significant contribution to contemporary moral and political philosophy. |
kant metaphysics of morals: The Moral Law Immanuel Kant, 1991 Kant'sMoral Law: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Moralsranks with Plato'sRepublicand Aristotle'sEthicsas one of the most important works of moral philosophy ever written. InMoral Law,Kant argues that a human action is only morally good if it is done from a sense of duty, and that a duty is a formal principle based not on self-interest or from a consideration of what results might follow. From this he derived his famous and controversial maxim, the categorical imperative: Act as if the maxim of your action were to become by your will a universal law of nature. H. J. Paton's translation remains the standard in English for this work. It retains all of Kant's liveliness of mind, suppressed intellectual excitement, moral earnestness, and pleasure in words. The commentary and detailed analysis that Paton provides is an invaluable and necessary guide for the student and general reader. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Immanuel Kant’s Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals Dieter Schönecker, Allen W. Wood, 2015-01-05 A defining work of moral philosophy, Kant’s Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals has been influential to an extent far beyond what its modest length (roughly 75 pages) might suggest. It is also a famously difficult work, concerned with propounding universal principles rather than answering practical questions. As even professional philosophers will admit, first-time readers are not alone in finding some of its arguments perplexing. Offering an introduction that is accessible to students and relevant to specialized scholars, Dieter Schönecker and Allen Wood make luminously clear the ways the Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals forms the basis of our modern moral outlook: that all human beings have equal dignity as ends in themselves; that every rational being is a self-governing agent whose morality freely derives from his or her own will; and that all rational beings constitute an ideal community, bound only by the moral laws they have agreed upon. Schönecker and Wood explain key Kantian concepts of duty, the good will, and moral worth, as well as the propositions Kant uses to derive his conception of the moral law. How the law relates to freedom, and the significance of the free will within Kant’s overall philosophy are rigorously interrogated. Where differing interpretations of Kant’s claims are possible, the authors provide alternative options, giving arguments for each. This critical introduction will help readers of the Groundwork gain an informed understanding of Kant’s challenging but central philosophical work. |
kant metaphysics of morals: The Moral Law Immanuel Kant, 1966 |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Sally Sedgwick, 2008-06-05 Immanuel Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals of 1785 is one of the most profound and important works in the history of practical philosophy. In this introduction to the Groundwork, Sally Sedgwick provides a guide to Kant's text that follows the course of his discussion virtually paragraph by paragraph. Her aim is to convey Kant's ideas and arguments as clearly and simply as possible, without getting lost in scholarly controversies. Her introductory chapter offers a useful overview of Kant's general approach to practical philosophy, and she also explores and clarifies some of the main assumptions which Kant relies on in his Groundwork but defends in his Critique of Pure Reason. The book will be a valuable guide for all who are interested in Kant's practical philosophy. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals Immanuel Kant, 2021-10-14 Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals Immanuel Kant - How should human beings behave toward one another? How must we behave? One of the most influential thinkers of the Western civilization, a man who profoundly shaped the mind-set of the modern world, Immanuel Kant developed his Categorical Imperative as a philosophical proof of the Golden Rule, and in this 1873 essay, he elaborates upon and defends his understanding of the logical underpinnings of all human morality. Essential reading for anyone seeking an appreciation of modern philosophy, this is an intriguing and provocative work exploring the intersection of morality and reason. German metaphysician IMMANUEL KANT (1724-1804) served as a librarian of the Royal Library, a prestigious government position, and as a professor at Knigsberg University. His other works include Observations on the Feeling of the Beautiful and Sublime (1764), Critique of Pure Reason (1781), and Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785). |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Immanuel Kant, 1998-04-23 Immanuel Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals ranks alongside Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics as one of the most profound and influential works in moral philosophy ever written. In Kant's own words its aim is to search for and establish the supreme principle of morality, the categorical imperative. Kant argues that every human being is an end in himself or herself, never to be used as a means by others, and that moral obligation is an expression of the human capacity for autonomy or self-government. This edition presents the acclaimed translation of the text by Mary Gregor, together with an introduction by Christine M. Korsgaard that examines and explains Kant's argument. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Ethics Immanuel Kant, 1925 |
kant metaphysics of morals: Metaphysical Elements of Justice Immanuel Kant, 1999-01-01 A revision of the Library of Liberal Arts edition of 1965. This volume offers the complete text of Kant's Metaphysics of Morals, Part I, translated by John Ladd, along with Ladd's illuminating Introduction to the first edition, expanded to include discussion of such issues as Kant's conception of marriage and its relevance to his view of women. An updated bibliography, glossary, and index are also provided. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Jens Timmermann, 2007-06-21 This is a paragraph-by-paragraph commentary on Kant's seminal work of moral philosophy. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant's Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals Henry E. Allison, 2011-10-06 Henry E. Allison presents a comprehensive commentary on Kant's Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals (1785). Allison pays special attention to the structure of the work and its historical and intellectual context. He argues that, despite its relative brevity, the Groundwork is the single most important work in modern moral philosophy. |
kant metaphysics of morals: An Introduction to Kant's Moral Philosophy Jennifer K. Uleman, 2010-01-21 Immanuel Kant's moral philosophy is one of the most distinctive achievements of the European Enlightenment. At its heart lies what Kant called the 'strange thing': the free, rational, human will. This introduction explores the basis of Kant's anti-naturalist, secular, humanist vision of the human good. Moving from a sketch of the Kantian will, with all its component parts and attributes, to Kant's canonical arguments for his categorical imperative, this introduction shows why Kant thought his moral law the best summary expression of both his own philosophical work on morality and his readers' deepest shared convictions about the good. Kant's central tenets, key arguments, and core values are presented in an accessible and engaging way, making this book ideal for anyone eager to explore the fundamentals of Kant's moral philosophy. |
kant metaphysics of morals: FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE METAPHYSIC OF MORALS THOMAS K. ABBOTT, |
kant metaphysics of morals: Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals Immanuel Kant, 1993-06-15 This expanded edition of James Ellington’s preeminent translation includes Ellington’s new translation of Kant’s essay Of a Supposed Right to Lie Because of Philanthropic Concerns in which Kant replies to one of the standard objections to his moral theory as presented in the main text: that it requires us to tell the truth even in the face of disastrous consequences. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals Immanuel Kant, 1949 |
kant metaphysics of morals: On the Metaphysics of Morals and Ethics Immanuel Kant, 2008-02 Collected here in this omnibus edition are Immanuel Kant's three most important works on the Metaphysics of Morals and Ethics. Included are Kant: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Introduction to the Metaphysic of Morals, and The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics. Kant's Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals is one of the most important works in modern moral philosophy. It belongs beside Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, and Hobbes. Here Kant sets out to articulate and defend the Categorical Imperative - the fundamental principle that underlies moral reasoning - and to lay the foundation for a comprehensive account of justice and human virtues. In Introduction to the Metaphysic of Morals Kant states: All duties are either duties of right, that is, juridical duties, or duties of virtue, that is, ethical duties. Juridical duties are such as may be promulgated by external legislation; ethical duties are those for which such legislation is not possible. In The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics states: If there exists on any subject a philosophy (that is, a system of rational knowledge based on concepts), then there must also be for this philosophy a system of pure rational concepts, independent of any condition of intuition, in other words, a metaphysic. It may be asked whether metaphysical elements are required also for every practical philosophy, which is the doctrine of duties, and therefore also for Ethics. |
kant metaphysics of morals: On the Metaphysics of Morals and Ethics Immanuel Kant, 2013-06-28 Collected here in this omnibus edition are Immanuel Kant's three most important works on the Metaphysics of Morals and Ethics. Included are Kant: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Introduction to the Metaphysic of Morals, and The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics. Kant's Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals is one of the most important works in modern moral philosophy. It belongs beside Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, and Hobbes. Here Kant sets out to articulate and defend the Categorical Imperative - the fundamental principle that underlies moral reasoning - and to lay the foundation for a comprehensive account of justice and human virtues. In Introduction to the Metaphysic of Morals Kant states: All duties are either duties of right, that is, juridical duties, or duties of virtue, that is, ethical duties. Juridical duties are such as may be promulgated by external legislation; ethical duties are those for which such legislation is not possible. In The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics states: If there exists on any subject a philosophy (that is, a system of rational knowledge based on concepts), then there must also be for this philosophy a system of pure rational concepts, independent of any condition of intuition, in other words, a metaphysic. It may be asked whether metaphysical elements are required also for every practical philosophy, which is the doctrine of duties, and therefore also for Ethics. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Immanuel Kant: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Immanuel Kant, 2014-04-10 Published in 1785, the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals is one of the most powerful texts in the history of ethical thought. In this book, Immanuel Kant formulates and justifies a supreme principle of morality that issues universal and unconditional moral commands. These commands receive their normative force from the fact that rational agents autonomously impose the moral law upon themselves. As such, they are laws of freedom. This volume contains the first facing-page German-English edition of Kant's Groundwork. It presents a new, authentic edition of the German text and a carefully revised version of Mary Gregor's acclaimed English translation, as well as editorial notes and a full bilingual index. It will be the edition of choice for any student or scholar who is not content with reading this central contribution to modern moral philosophy through the veil of English translation. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Paul Guyer, 2000-01-01 Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals is one of the most important works in modern moral philosophy. This collection of essays, the first of its kind in nearly thirty years, introduces the reader to some of the most important studies of the book from the past two decades, arranged in the form of a collective commentary. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Introduction to the Metaphysic of Morals Immanuel Kant, 2020 |
kant metaphysics of morals: Ethical Philosophy Immanuel Kant, 1994-01-01 This expanded edition of James Ellington's preeminent translations of Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals and Metaphysical Principles of Virtue includes his new translation of Kant's essay On a Supposed Right to Lie Because of Philanthropic Concerns, in which Kant replies to one of the standard objections to his moral theory, as presented in the main text of Grounding, that it requires us to tell the truth even in the face of harmful consequences. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant's Moral Metaphysics Benjamin J. Bruxvoort Lipscomb, James Krueger, 2010 Recent interpreters of Kant's philosophy and contemporary advocates of broadly neo-Kantian views generally minimize the importance of Kant's metaphysical beliefs. This volume re-evaluates these minimizing approaches with particular reference to Kant's moral philosophy, exploring Kantian positions on such topics as moral corruption, the relation between God and ethics, the metaphysics of human freedom, and the possibility of knowledge of God. This volume is the first to place these topics within the context of the Critical philosophy as a whole, encouraging not only a more metaphysical, but also a more holistic reading of Kant. |
kant metaphysics of morals: The Annotated Kant Steven M. Cahn, 2020-05-15 This new, complete translation of Kant’s Groundwork makes a challenging foundational work of moral philosophy accessible to all readers. Remaining faithful to the original German, the text is rendered clearly to promote reader comprehension. An inviting introduction, running commentary, and glossary further support study and interpretation. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant's Lectures on Ethics Lara Denis, Oliver Sensen, 2015-04-23 This is the first book devoted to an examination of Kant's lectures on ethics, which provide a unique and revealing perspective on the development of his views. In fifteen newly commissioned essays, leading Kant scholars discuss four sets of student notes reflecting different periods of Kant's career: those taken by Herder (1762–4), Collins (mid-1770s), Mrongovius (1784–5) and Vigilantius (1793–4). The essays cover a diverse range of topics, from the relation between Kant's lectures and the Baumgarten textbooks, to obligation, virtue, love, the highest good, freedom, the categorical imperative, moral motivation and religion. Together they provide the reader with a deeper and fuller understanding of the evolution of Kant's moral thought. The volume will be of interest to a range of readers in Kant studies, ethics, political philosophy, religious studies and the history of ideas. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant's 'Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals' Paul Guyer, 2007-07-10 An introductory guide to the seminal work of Kant and his modern moral philosophy. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Immanuel Kant, 2016-04-14 All rational knowledge is either material or formal: the former considers some object, the latter is concerned only with the form of the understanding and of the reason itself, and with the universal laws of thought in general without distinction of its objects. Formal philosophy is called Logic. Material philosophy, however, has to do with determinate objects and the laws to which they are subject, is again twofold; for these laws are either laws of nature or of freedom. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant's Search for the Supreme Principle of Morality Samuel J. Kerstein, 2002-05-02 At the core of Kant's ethics lies the claim that if there is a supreme principle of morality then it cannot be a principle based on utilitarianism or Aristotelian perfectionism or the Ten Commandments. The only viable candidate for such a principle is the categorical imperative. This book is the most detailed investigation of this claim. It constructs a new, criterial reading of Kant's derivation of one version of the categorical imperative: the Formula of Universal Law. This reading shows this derivation to be far more compelling than contemporary philosophers tend to believe. It also reveals a novel approach to deriving another version of the categorical imperative, the Formula of Humanity, a principle widely considered to be the most attractive Kantian candidate for the supreme principle of morality. This book will be important not just for Kant scholars but for a broad swathe of students of philosophy. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Immanuel Kant, 1998-04-23 Immanuel Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals ranks alongside Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics as one of the most profound and influential works in moral philosophy ever written. In Kant's own words its aim is to search for and establish the supreme principle of morality, the categorical imperative. This edition presents the acclaimed translation of the text by Mary Gregor, together with an introduction by Christine M. Korsgaard that examines and explains Kant's argument. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Introduction to the Metaphysics of Morals Immanuel Kant, 2013-02-06 All duties are either duties of right, that is, juridical duties, or duties of virtue, that is, ethical duties. Juridical duties are such as may be promulgated by external legislation; ethical duties are those for which such legislation is not possible. |
kant metaphysics of morals: Immanuel Kant Lawrence Pasternack, 2020-03-24 The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals^ is one of the most important works of moral philosophy ever written, and Kant's most widely read work. It attempts to demonstrate that morality has its foundation in reason and that our wills are free from both natural necessity and the power of desire. It is here that Kant sets out his famous and controversial 'categorical imperative', which forms the basis of his moral theory. This book is an essential guide to the groundwork and the many important and profound claims that Kant raises. The book combines an invaluable introduction to the work offering an exploration of these arguments and setting them in the context of Kant's thinking, along with the complete H.J Paton translation of the work, and a selection of six of the best contemporary commentaries. It is the ideal companion for all students of Kantian ethics and anyone interested in moral philosophy. _ _ _ |
kant metaphysics of morals: Kant: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals , 2012-04-19 Published in 1785, Immanuel Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals ranks alongside Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics as one of the most profound and influential works in moral philosophy ever written. In Kant's own words, its aim is to identify and corroborate the supreme principle of morality, the categorical imperative. He argues that human beings are ends in themselves, never to be used by anyone merely as a means, and that universal and unconditional obligations must be understood as an expression of the human capacity for autonomy and self-governance. As such, they are laws of freedom. This volume contains Mary Gregor's acclaimed translation of the text into English, revised by Jens Timmermann, and an accessible, updated introduction by Christine Korsgaard. |
kant metaphysics of morals: The Emergence of Autonomy in Kant's Moral Philosophy Stefano Bacin, Oliver Sensen, 2019 A thorough study of why Kant developed the concept of autonomy, one of his central legacies for contemporary moral thought. |
Immanuel Kant - Wikipedia
Immanuel Kant [a] (born Emanuel Kant; 22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804) was a German philosopher and one of the central Enlightenment thinkers. Born in Königsberg , Kant's comprehensive and systematic …
Immanuel Kant - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
May 20, 2010 · Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) is the central figure in modern philosophy. He synthesized early modern rationalism and empiricism, set the terms for much of nineteenth and twentieth century …
Immanuel Kant | Biography, Philosophy, Books, & Facts | Britan…
Apr 18, 2025 · Immanuel Kant, German philosopher who was one of the foremost thinkers of the Enlightenment and who inaugurated a new era of philosophical thought. His comprehensive and systematic …
Kant’s Moral Philosophy - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) argued that the supreme principle of morality is a principle of practical rationality that he dubbed the “Categorical Imperative” (CI). Kant characterized the CI as an objective, …
Immanuel Kant - World History Encyclopedia
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was a German Enlightenment thinker who is widely regarded as one of the most important philosophers of any period.
Immanuel Kant - Wikipedia
Immanuel Kant [a] (born Emanuel Kant; 22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804) was a German philosopher and one of the central Enlightenment thinkers. Born in Königsberg , Kant's …
Immanuel Kant - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
May 20, 2010 · Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) is the central figure in modern philosophy. He synthesized early modern rationalism and empiricism, set the terms for much of nineteenth and …
Immanuel Kant | Biography, Philosophy, Books, & Facts | Britannica
Apr 18, 2025 · Immanuel Kant, German philosopher who was one of the foremost thinkers of the Enlightenment and who inaugurated a new era of philosophical thought. His comprehensive and …
Kant’s Moral Philosophy - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) argued that the supreme principle of morality is a principle of practical rationality that he dubbed the “Categorical Imperative” (CI). Kant characterized the CI as an …
Immanuel Kant - World History Encyclopedia
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was a German Enlightenment thinker who is widely regarded as one of the most important philosophers of any period.
Kant, Immanuel | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Immanuel Kant. At the foundation of Kant’s system is the doctrine of “transcendental idealism,” which emphasizes a distinction between what we can experience (the natural, observable world) …
Immanuel Kant: Biography, Philosopher, Critique of Pure Reason
Aug 9, 2023 · Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher during the Enlightenment era of the late 18th century. His best-known work is the 'Critique of Pure Reason.'
Immanuel Kant Facts | Britannica
Apr 18, 2025 · German philosopher Immanuel Kant was a prominent figure of the Enlightenment whose work in such fields as epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics was hugely influential in the …
What Is Kant’s Theory of Knowledge? - TheCollector
Jun 9, 2025 · Kant’s theory of knowledge, transcendental idealism, says human experience is of appearances, not direct reality. Two main interpretations exist: “two objects” (separate realities) …
An Introduction to the Work of Kant - Immanuel Kant
Kant believes that if a person could not act otherwise, then his or her act can have no moral worth. Further, he believes that every human being is endowed with a conscience that makes him or her …