Kant: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of MoralsPublished 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. |
Contents
Preface | 3 |
First section Transition from common to philosophical moral rational cognition | 9 |
Second section Transition from popular moral philosophy to the metaphysics of morals | 21 |
Third section Transition from the metaphysics of morals to the critique of pure practical reason | 56 |
Common terms and phrases
according action actually argument autonomy become a universal belonging called Cambridge University Press categorical imperative causality cause command condition conforms with duty contains contradiction Critique of Practical Critique of Pure desiderative faculty determine dignity effect empirical examples experience false promise foundation Groundwork happiness hence heteronomy human reason hypothetical imperative idea of freedom Immanuel Kant incentive inclination interest John Rawls judgment Kant’s ethics Kantian kingdom of ends law of nature matter maxim means merely Metaphysics of Morals moral law moral philosophy moral worth motivating ground namely necessary never objective laws objective principle one’s ourselves perfect duties person possible practical law practical philosophy practical principle presuppose principle of morality pure practical reason pure reason purpose question regard representation respect Robert Merrihew Adams says synthetic a priori synthetic proposition theory thing translated unconditional universal law universally legislating University of Königsberg wants world of sense world of understanding