Ends And Principles In Kant S Moral Thought

Author : John E. Atwell
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 227 pages
File Size : 54,8 Mb
Release : 2012-12-06
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9789400943452

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Ends and Principles in Kant’s Moral Thought by John E. Atwell Pdf

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) stands among the greatest thinkers of the Western world. There is hardly an area of thought, at least of philosophical thought, to which he did not make significant and lasting contributions. Particularly noteworthy are his writings on the foundations and limits of human knowledge, the bidimensional nature of perceptual or "natural" objects (including human beings), the basic principles and ends of morality, the character of a just society and of a world at peace, the movement and direction of human history, the nature of beauty, the end or purpose of all creation, the proper education of young people, the true conception of religion, and on and on. Though Kant was a life-long resident of Konigsberg, Prussia - child, student, tutor, and then professor of philosophy (and other subjects) - his thought ranged over nearly all the world and even beyond. Reports reveal that he (a bachelor) was an amiable man, highly respected by his students and colleagues, and even loved by his several close friends. He was apparently a man of integrity, both in his personal relations and in his pursuit of knowledge and truth. Despite his somewhat pessimistic attitude toward the moral progress of mankind - judging from past history and contemporary events - he never wavered from a deep-seated faith in the goodness of the human heart, in man's "splendid disposition toward the good.

Author : John E. Atwell
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 226 pages
File Size : 55,9 Mb
Release : 1986
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9024723310

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Ends and Principles in Kant's Moral Thought by John E. Atwell Pdf

Author : Immanuel Kant
Publisher : Lindhardt og Ringhof
Page : 39 pages
File Size : 50,9 Mb
Release : 2020-07-30
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9788726627466

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Kant’s Foundations of Ethics by Immanuel Kant Pdf

These works articulate the most fundamental principles of Kant’s ethical and political world-view. "What is Enlightenment?" (1784) and "Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals" (1785) challenge all free people to think about the requirements for self-determination both in our individual lives and in our public and private institutions. Kant’s "Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals" is dedicated to the proposition that all people can know what they need to know to be honest, good, wise, and virtuous. The purpose of Kant’s moral philosophy is to help us become aware of the principles that are already contained within us. Innocence and dependence must be replaced with wisdom and good will if we are to avoid being vulnerable and misguided. According to Kant, freedom of thought leads naturally to freedom of action. When that happens, governments begin to treat human beings, not as machines, but as persons with dignity. Immanuel Kant begins "Toward Lasting Peace" by contrasting the realism of practical politicians with the high-minded theories of philosophers who "dream their sweet dreams." His opening line provides a grim reminder that the only alternative to finding a way to avoid the war of each against all is the lasting peace of the graveyard. The advent of total war and the development of nuclear weapons in the twentieth century give Kant’s reflections an urgency he could not have anticipated. Kant published this work in 1795, during the aftermath of the American Revolution and the French Revolution. The high hopes of the European Enlightenment had been dampened by the Reign of Terror in which tens of thousands of people died, and the perpetual cycle of war and temporary armistice seemed to be inescapable. Kant’s essay is best known as an early articulation of the idea of a league of nations that could bring "an end to all hostilities." Today The United Nations continues to pursue that dream, but lasting peace still seems to be wishful thinking. No modern philosopher is more important than Immanuel Kant. His works extend from epistemology and metaphysics to aesthetics, ethics, and political philosophy. His "Critical Philosophy" is developed in three major works: "The Critique of Pure Reason," "The Critique of Practical Reason," and "The Critique of Judgment." A German speaker, he was born in Prussia, an area that is now part of Poland. He never travelled more than 50 miles from his home in Königsberg, but his influence has since pervaded every aspect of Western culture.

Author : Richard Dean
Publisher : Oxford University Press on Demand
Page : 281 pages
File Size : 52,5 Mb
Release : 2006-05-11
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780199285723

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The Value of Humanity in Kant's Moral Theory by Richard Dean Pdf

The humanity formulation of Kant's Categorical Imperative demands that we treat humanity as an end in itself. Because this principle resonates with currently influential ideals of human rights and dignity, contemporary readers often find it compelling, even if the rest of Kant's moral philosophy leaves them cold. Moreover, some prominent specialists in Kant's ethics recently have turned to the humanity formulation as the most theoretically central and promising principle of Kant'sethics. Nevertheless, despite the intuitive appeal and the increasingly recognized philosophical importance of the humanity formulation, it has received less attention than many other, less central, aspects of Kant's ethics. Richard Dean offers the most sustained and systematic examination of thehumanity formulation to date.Dean argues that the 'rational nature' that must be treated as an end in itself is not a minimally rational nature, consisting of the power to set ends or the unrealized capacity to act morally, but instead is the more properly rational nature possessed by someone who gives priority to moral principles over any contrary impulses. This non-standard reading of the humanity formulation provides a firm theoretical foundation for deriving plausible approaches to particular moral issues - and,contrary to first impressions, does not impose moralistic demands to pass judgment on others' character. Dean's reading also enables progress on problems of interest to Kant scholars, such as reconstructing Kant's argument for accepting the humanity formulation as a basic moral principle, and allows forincreased understanding of the relationship between Kant's ethics and supposedly Kantian ideas such as 'respect for autonomy'.

Author : J.D. Hodson
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 189 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 2012-12-06
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9789400972575

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The Ethics of Legal Coercion by J.D. Hodson Pdf

Are all of the commonly accepted aims of the use of law justifiable? Which kinds of behavior are justifiably prohibited, which kinds justifiably required? What uses of law are not defensible? How can the legitimacy or the ille gitimacy of various uses of law be explained or accounted for? These are questions the answering of which involves one in many issues of moral principle, for the answers require that one adopt positions - even if only implicitly - on further questions of what kinds of actions or policies are morally or ethically acceptable. The present work, aimed at questions of these kinds, is thus a study in the ethical evaluation of major uses of legal coercion. It is an attempt to provide a framework within which many questions about the proper uses of law may be fruitfully discussed. The framework, if successful, can be used by anyone asking questions about the defensibility of particular or general uses of law, whether from the perspective of someone considering whether to bring about some new legal provision, from the perspective of someone concerned to evaluate an eXisting provision, or from that of someone concerned more abstractly with questions about the appropriate substance of an ideal legal system. In addressing these and associated issues, I shall be exploring the extent to which an ethics based on respect for persons and their autonomy can handle satisfactorily the problems arising here.

Author : Michael Cholbi
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 247 pages
File Size : 49,6 Mb
Release : 2016-11-17
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781107163461

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Understanding Kant's Ethics by Michael Cholbi Pdf

A systematic guide to Kant's ethical work and the debates surrounding it, accessible to students and specialists alike.

Author : Immanuel Kant
Publisher : DigiCat
Page : 84 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2022-08-10
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : EAN:8596547158172

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Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant Pdf

Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals is the first of Immanuel Kant's mature works on moral philosophy and remains one of the most influential in the field. Kant conceives his investigation as a work of foundational ethics—one that clears the ground for future research by explaining the core concepts and principles of moral theory and showing that they are normative for rational agents.

Author : Immanuel Kant
Publisher : Phoemixx Classics Ebooks
Page : 86 pages
File Size : 49,7 Mb
Release : 2021-10-14
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9783986477943

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Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals by Immanuel Kant Pdf

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).

Author : Immanuel Kant
Publisher : Courier Corporation
Page : 98 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 2012-04-04
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780486112497

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Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant Pdf

What is morally permissible, and what is morally obligatory? These questions form the core of a vast amount of philosophical reasoning. In his Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals, Immanuel Kant developed a basis for the answers. In this landmark work, the German philosopher asks what sort of maxim might function as a guide to appropriate action under a given set of circumstances. By universalizing such a maxim, would morally permissible behavior not become clear? Suppose that everyone were to behave in accordance with this maxim. If everyone followed the maxim in the same way without harm to civilized culture, then the behavior would be morally permissible. But what if no one followed the maxim? Would civilization thereby be at risk? In such a case, the behavior would be morally obligatory. Kant's test, known as the Categorical Imperative, is a logical proof of the Golden Rule and the centerpiece of this work. It constitutes his best-known contribution to ethical discussion, and a familiarity with his reasoning in this book is essential to students of philosophy, religion, and history.

Author : Philip Stratton-Lake
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 172 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 2005-07-05
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781134627516

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Kant, Duty and Moral Worth by Philip Stratton-Lake Pdf

Kant, Duty and Moral Worth is a fascinating and original examination of Kant's account of moral worth. The complex debate at the heart of Kant's philosophy is over whether Kant said moral actions have worth only if they are carried out from duty, or whether actions carried out from mixed motives can be good. Philip Stratton-Lake offers a unique account of acting from duty, which utilizes the distinction between primary and secondary motives. He maintains that the moral law should not be understood as a normative moral reason but as playing a transcendental role. Thus a Kantian account of moral worth is one where the virtuous agent may be responsive to concrete particular considerations, whilst preserving an essential role for universal moral principles. Kant, Duty and Moral Worth is a lucid examination of Kant's moral thought that will appeal to Kant scholars and anyone interested in moral theory.

Author : Immanuel Kant
Publisher : Yale University Press
Page : 197 pages
File Size : 51,9 Mb
Release : 2008-10-01
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780300128154

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Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant Pdf

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.

Author : Inmanuel Kant
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Page : 176 pages
File Size : 55,7 Mb
Release : 2017-02-22
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1543272037

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Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals by Inmanuel Kant Pdf

Within the two parts which constitute the overall work, Kant initiates a wide ranging discussion beginning with a retrospective on Ancient Greek philosophy, whose means of organising philosophic thought he broadly agreed with. He defines in turns the principles of logic, ethics and physics, noting the distinguishing characteristics of each. After this overview Kant introduces his own innovative distinction upon the theme of morals. The Categorical Imperative, which was to become a core pillar of Kantian philosophy, is held as the supreme and overarching principle of moral thought in contrast to the general sense of ethical behaviour which defines human good conduct. Kant goes on to explains that the assumption of 'good' in everything is not guaranteed - it requires a good will behind it to qualify it as such. While great wealth can be used for good works and deeds, it can also be put to great evil. An exceptional mind may devote itself to furthering the good in the world through conscientious application of the intellect, or choose to ignore moral constraints and thereby produce evil. Going further, Kant discusses the relation between mental reasoning and morality; how free will uses reason to arrive at moral decisions. Kant is distinguished as one of the Enlightenment's leading thinkers, and it was the publishing of the Metaphysic of Morals (also known as the Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals) which propelled the philosopher to wide recognition in Europe. In modern times, it is often a primary text on philosophy course modules.

Author : Andrews Reath
Publisher : Clarendon Press
Page : 288 pages
File Size : 55,7 Mb
Release : 2006-02-23
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780191537196

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Agency and Autonomy in Kant's Moral Theory by Andrews Reath Pdf

Andrews Reath presents a selection of his best essays on various features of Kant's moral psychology and moral theory, with particular emphasis on his conception of rational agency and his conception of autonomy. The opening essays explore different elements of Kant's views about motivation, including his account of respect for morality as the distinctive moral motive and his view of the principle of happiness as a representation of the shared structure of non-moral choice. These essays stress the unity of Kant's moral psychology by arguing that moral and non-moral considerations motivate in essentially the same way. Several of the essays develop an original approach to Kant's conception of autonomy that emphasizes the political metaphors found throughout Kant's writings on ethics. They argue that autonomy is best interpreted not as a psychological capacity, but as a kind of sovereignty: in claiming that moral agents have autonomy, Kant regards them as a kind of sovereign legislator with the power to give moral law through their willing. The final essays explore some of the implications of this conception of autonomy elsewhere in Kant's moral thought, arguing that his Formula of Universal Law uses this conception of autonomy to generate substantive moral principles and exploring the connection between Kantian self-legislation and duties to oneself. The collection offers revised versions of several previously published essays, as well as two new papers, 'Autonomy of the Will as the Foundation of Morality' and 'Agency and Universal Law'. It will be of interest to all students and scholars of Kant, and to many moral philosophers.

Author : Arthur Ripstein
Publisher : Harvard University Press
Page : 416 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2010-02-15
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780674054516

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Force and Freedom by Arthur Ripstein Pdf

In this masterful work, both an illumination of Kant’s thought and an important contribution to contemporary legal and political theory, Arthur Ripstein gives a comprehensive yet accessible account of Kant’s political philosophy. Ripstein shows that Kant’s thought is organized around two central claims: first, that legal institutions are not simply responses to human limitations or circumstances; indeed the requirements of justice can be articulated without recourse to views about human inclinations and vulnerabilities. Second, Kant argues for a distinctive moral principle, which restricts the legitimate use of force to the creation of a system of equal freedom. Ripstein’s description of the unity and philosophical plausibility of this dimension of Kant’s thought will be a revelation to political and legal scholars. In addition to providing a clear and coherent statement of the most misunderstood of Kant’s ideas, Ripstein also shows that Kant’s views remain conceptually powerful and morally appealing today. Ripstein defends the idea of equal freedom by examining several substantive areas of law—private rights, constitutional law, police powers, and punishment—and by demonstrating the compelling advantages of the Kantian framework over competing approaches.

Author : Samuel J. Kerstein
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 242 pages
File Size : 48,9 Mb
Release : 2002-05-02
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781139434195

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Kant's Search for the Supreme Principle of Morality by Samuel J. Kerstein Pdf

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.