In james rachels book, the element of moral philosophy. It is not something outside of us, whether gods will or custom, or something heteronomous inside us, such as a moral sense or a feeling of pleasure, that determines the content of the moral law. The book provides an introduction to kant s moral philosophy that is not ashamed of interpretation and is willing to make a point, and it is therefore a highly profitable read for beginners and scholars alike. According to kants perception of moral duty, this phenomenon is necessary to discuss from both aspects. Kant s moral philosophy is a conception of reason whose reach in practical affairs goes well beyond that of a humean slave to the passions. Another documents and criticizes the neglect of this history in the american philosophy curriculum. He points out the similarities and differences between morality and religion. The book provides an introduction to kants moral philosophy that is not ashamed of interpretation and is willing to make a point, and it is therefore a highly profitable read for. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. Firmly established as the standard text for undergraduate courses in ethics, this concise, lively book takes the reader on an indepth tour of the major moral. A2 religious studies exam revision booklet detailed revision notes for kants moral theory. He is equally well known for his metaphysicsthe subject of his critique of pure reasonand for the moral philosophy set out in his groundwork to the metaphysics of morals and critique of practical reason although groundwork is the far easier of the two to.
As well as kants most famous moral and political writings, the groundwork to the metaphysics of morals, the critique of practical reason, the metaphysics of morals, and toward perpetual peace, the. He is equally well known for his metaphysicsthe subject of his critique of pure reasonand for the moral philosophy set out in his groundwork to the metaphysics of morals and critique of practical reason. Mary warnocks top 10 philosophy books books the guardian. Kant has three major works, critique of pure reason, which is his longest and i hear most difficult work. No other collection competes with the comprehensiveness of this one. Moreover, it is the presence of this selfgoverning reason in each person that kant thought offered decisive grounds for viewing each as possessed of equal worth and deserving of equal respect. Immanuel kant 17241804 is one of the most influential philosophers in the history of western philosophy.
At its heart lies what kant called the strange thing. Mostly, when thought about morals, religion is mention. He synthesized early modern rationalism and empiricism, set the terms for much of nineteenth and twentieth century philosophy, and continues to exercise a significant influence today in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics, and other fields. Moral philosophy from montaigne to kant by j schneewind author 4. Immanuel kant s moral philosophy is one of the most distinctive achievements of the european enlightenment.
The book provides an introduction to kants moral philosophy that is not ashamed of interpretation and is willing to make a point, and it is. Dostoevskys crime and punishment considers moral philosophy from many perspectives, but in a different way. Kant and applied ethics wiley online books wiley online library. Moral philosophy from montaigne to kant edited by j. One of the best, brief explanations of moral theories is found in rachels and rachels 2010. Kant and the enlightenment some ethical bearings of kants critique of pure reason kants discussion of the ordinary moral consciousness hypothetical imperatives and the categorical imperative the supreme principle of morality. Kant defines moral duty as a necessity of action caused by respect to the law. Using the most nontechnical language possible, the text offers a detailed, authoritative account of kants moral philosophy, including his. One can see why john rawls rejuvenated interest in moral philosophy this book is not only a beautifully written, but also a well organized collection of lectures on moral philosophy. Including a substantial introduction and extensive bibliographies, the anthology facilitates the study and teaching of early modern moral philosophy in its crucial formative period. Immanuel kant 17241804 is the central figure in modern philosophy. Essays on the history of moral philosophy oxford scholarship. In early modern europe moral philosophy often referred to the systematic study of the human world, as distinguished from natural philosophy, the systematic study of the natural world.
But, basically, this is an introduction to kants moral philosophy. Immanuel kant, german philosopher, has written a very abundant philosophy, among. It explains many of kants central concepts, such as those of will, freedom, maxims, and imperatives, clearly and succinctly. Kant intends to follow this work with a more thorough treatment of moral philosophy. This engaging book is a wonderful introduction to kant s moral philosophy. Kant and the enlightenment some ethical bearings of kant s critique of pure reason kant s discussion of the ordinary moral consciousness hypothetical imperatives and the categorical imperative the supreme principle of morality. Buy a cheap copy of the elements of moral philosophy book by james rachels. Kant implements a strictly universal account of morality, and as a result, a moral action is always determinable. Shop philosophy ethics moral philosophy books at alibris. It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will.
Hume sets out his views concerning freedom of the will in book ii, part 3, of a. Several chapters are devoted to kants moral and political philosophy, as well as to aspects of kants philosophy of religion, history, and nature that bear on his ethics. Moral philosophy is the branch of learning that deals with the nature of morality and the theories that are used to arrive at decisions about what one ought to do and why. Groundwork of the metaphysics of morals by immanuel kant, what money cant buy. The next analyzes the main arguments in sidgwicks methods of ethics.
The most basic aim of moral philosophy, and so also of the groundwork, is, in kant s view, to seek out the foundational principle of a metaphysics of morals, which kant understands as a system of a priori moral principles that apply the ci to human persons in all times and cultures. By leaving nothing to the relative interpretation of the moral agent, the philosophy of kants metaphysics of morals consistently and soundly results in. He explores questions of how we should live and by what values in books spanning across multiple genres. First, our own reason gives the content of the moral law. Reviews for those interested in the details of how kant came to develop his view of autonomy, and the various precursor views he developed and engaged with on the way there, this book. The mathematical sublime results from the failure of the imagination to comprehend natural. First published around the same time as desplands book, allen w oods kants moral.
Kant views it as an action that one is obliged to obey. Kants understanding of moral freedom and of moral principles has been central to discussions of morality from his time forward. Much has been written about moral philosophy and the theories that support ethical decisions. Critique of practical reason and groundwork for the metaphysic of morals. See the metaphysic of ethics by immanuel kant, translated by j. The distinction that kant draws in the preface between pure and empirical concepts is of critical importance to his philosophy. The resulting volume will be of interest to both scholars and students of kantian moral philosophy, as well as to anyone interested in the subject of autonomy. Ive chosen another book by kant with a rather forbidding title. Abbotts 1873 translation of kants groundwork for the metaphysics of morals 2005. Readers who wish to understand kants ethics within the context of his philosophy as a whole will find guyer 2006 an illuminating introduction. But where the utilitarian takes happiness, conceived of as pleasure and the absence of pain to be what has intrinsic value, kant takes the only thing to have moral worth for its own sake to be the capacity for good will we find in persons. Kant, immanuel internet encyclopedia of philosophy.
The questions of moral philosophy are not always best answered by philosophy books, says leading moral philosopher, jonathan glover. Immanuel kant presented his most notable positions on moral philosophy in his book the groundwork of metaphysics of morals. Kants discussion of the ordinary moral consciousness. The book is his first critique, the critique of pure reason 1781. The grounding is meant to be more accessible than this later work. Get ready to write your paper on immanuel kant 17241804. The book offers a definitive study of the development of kant s conception of the highest good, from his earliest work, to his dying days. It is argued that kant believes in god, but that he is not a christian, and that this opens up an important and neglected dimension of western philosophy. Kant s philosophy on moral philosophy 1515 words bartleby. The emergence of autonomy in kants moral philosophy edited. Immanuel kant 17241804 is generally considered to be one of the most profound and original philosophers who ever lived. His comprehensive and systematic work in epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics greatly influenced all subsequent philosophy. Stefano bacin and oliver sensen, the editors of this book, briefly outline kants account of autonomy in three claims.
Without human freedom, thought kant, moral appraisal and moral responsibility would be impossible. Kantian ethics refers to a deontological ethical theory developed by the german philosopher immanuel kant. Mary warnocks top 10 philosophy books published on sun 3 dec 2000 19. An introduction to kants moral philosophy book depository. Kants moral philosophy is a conception of reason whose reach in practical affairs goes well beyond that of a humean slave to the passions. Kant is not a christian, because he cannot accept christianitys traditional claims about the. Kant pursues this project through the first two chapters. In a practical philosophy it is not a concern to indicate reasons for what happens, but laws for what. The first of the chapters in this book argues against foundationalism in moral philosophy.
This introduction explores the basis of kants antinaturalist, secular, humanist vision of the human good. The emergence of autonomy in kants moral philosophy. By leaving nothing to the relative interpretation of the moral agent, the philosophy of kants metaphysics of morals consistently and soundly results in an answer to the question, what ought i to do. Barker, mind a memorable volume, which comes as near a classical exposit. Kants moral philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy.
This is the first english translation of all of kants writings on moral and political philosophy collected in a single volume. Moral philosophy according to immanuel kant thoughtco. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries moral philosophy in this broad sense was gradually split up into separate disciplines. But the book also makes an argument that must be taken seriously by every scholar as well as student of kant. Immanuel kant, german philosopher who was one of the foremost thinkers of the enlightenment and who inaugurated a new era of philosophical thought. Kant made a distinction between categorical and hypothetical imperatives. Schopenhauers criticism of kants deontology for kant, normativity prescriptive ethics is simply assumed and never proved. Immanuel kants moral philosophy is one of the most distinctive achievements of the european enlightenment. An introduction to kants moral philosophy 97805216440. Kants first false statement lies in his concept of ethics itself, a concept which we find articulated most clearly in metaphysics of morals, p62. The following year kant published a new, extensively revised edition of the critique, following it up with the critique of practical reason 1788, treating the foundations of moral philosophy, and the critique of judgment 1790, an examination of aesthetics rounding out his system through a strikingly original treatment of two topics that. An introduction to kants moral philosophy by jennifer k. Aug 31, 2019 immanuel kant 17241804 is generally considered to be one of the most profound and original philosophers who ever lived.
This engaging book is a wonderful introduction to kants moral philosophy. Georg wilhelm friedrich hegel subsequently presented a number of objections to kants positions, mainly in his book the phenomenology of spirit. The most basic aim of moral philosophy, and so also of the groundwork, is, in kants view, to seek out the foundational principle of a metaphysics of morals, which kant understands as a system of a priori moral principles that apply the ci to human persons in all times and cultures. This anthology contains excerpts from some thirtytwo important seventeenth and eighteenthcentury moral philosophers. Kant and hume on morality stanford encyclopedia of philosophy.
This report examines the topic of moral philosophy in dostoevskys crime and punishment, focusing on how the work reflects on many of the moral philosophy theories of kant, and looking at relations from a close reading of the text. Includes all the information you require to achieve a top grade in your exam and use for essays. Introduction is a misleading term in this context because its quite a forbidding read no one could claim that it is easy. It explains many of kant s central concepts, such as those of will, freedom, maxims, and imperatives, clearly and succinctly. Like his theoretical philosophy, kants practical philosophy is a priori, formal, and universal.
This is the focus of the book, and it comes across in a powerful and reverberatory way. Uleman, 97805216440, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. While empirical moral philosophy, which kant calls moral. A hypothetical imperative is one we must obey if we want to satisfy our desires. The elements of moral philosophy book by james rachels. In james rachels book, the element of moral philosophy, he made interesting point in the fourth chapter. Critique of pure reason first edition 1781, 2nd edition, 1787 prolegomena to any future metaphysics 1783 grounding for the metaphysics of morals 1785 critique of practical reason 1788. Immanuel kant 17241804 argued that the supreme principle of morality is a standard of rationality that he dubbed the categorical. One chapter relates victorian moral philosophy to victorian fiction. But, basically, this is an introduction to kant s moral philosophy. The primary formulation of kants ethics is the categorical imperative, from which he derived four further formulations. Dec 06, 2019 according to kants perception of moral duty, this phenomenon is necessary to discuss from both aspects.
This introduction explores the basis of kant s antinaturalist, secular, humanist vision of the human good. Duties to oneself in kants ethics 2001 and has edited a new version of thomas k. Apr, 20 kant implements a strictly universal account of morality, and as a result, a moral action is always determinable. In this age of utilitarian ethics that are never questioned, kant is like a ray of hope. These are indispensable parts of the present work, but they have been translated entirely anew. The emergence of autonomy in kant s moral philosophy. Some commentators argue that kant s critical philosophy contains a third kind of the sublime, the moral sublime, which is the aesthetic response to the moral law or a representation, and a development of the noble sublime in kant s theory of 1764.
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