The Metaphysics of Morals (
Die Metaphysik der Sitten, 1797) is a major work of moral and political philosophy by
Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant was an 18th-century German philosopher from the Prussian city of Königsberg...
. It was not as well known or as widely read as his earlier works, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals and the
Critique of Practical ReasonThe Critique of Practical Reason is the second of Immanuel Kant's three critiques, first published in 1788. It follows on from his Critique of Pure Reason and deals with his moral philosophy....
, but it experienced a renaissance through the pioneering work of Mary J. Gregor in her
Laws of Freedom of 1963.
The work is divided into two main parts.
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The Metaphysics of Morals (
Die Metaphysik der Sitten, 1797) is a major work of moral and political philosophy by
Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant was an 18th-century German philosopher from the Prussian city of Königsberg...
. It was not as well known or as widely read as his earlier works, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals and the
Critique of Practical ReasonThe Critique of Practical Reason is the second of Immanuel Kant's three critiques, first published in 1788. It follows on from his Critique of Pure Reason and deals with his moral philosophy....
, but it experienced a renaissance through the pioneering work of Mary J. Gregor in her
Laws of Freedom of 1963.
The work is divided into two main parts. The first one
Science of Right is grounded in
republicanRepublicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of Republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context. The sometimes contrary definitions are all covered in...
interpretation of origins of political
communityIn biological terms, a community is a group of interacting organisms sharing an environment.In human communities, intent, belief, resources, preferences, needs, risks, and a number of other conditions may be present and common, affecting the identity of the participants and their degree of...
as civil society and establishment of
positive lawPositive law is a legal term that is sometimes understood to have more than one meaning. In the strictest sense, it is law made by human beings, that is, "Law actually and specifically enacted or adopted by proper authority for the government of an organized jural society." This term is also...
. Published separately in 1790,
Science of Right is one of the last examples of
classical republicanismClassical republicanism is a form of republicanism originating from and inspired by the governmental forms and writings of classical antiquity...
in political philosophy. The
Science of Right contains the most mature of Kant's statements on the peace project and a system of law to ensure individual rights.
The second part
Science of Virtue touches issues of moral development of human entity.
Further Reading
The Metaphysics of Morals. Trans. Mary J. Gregor. Cambridge U. Press, 1996. ISBN 0-521-56673-8.
External links
The Science of Right full text