Metaphysics of Morals
Encyclopedia
The Metaphysics of Morals (Die Metaphysik der Sitten, 1797) is a major work of moral and political philosophy by Immanuel Kant
. 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 Reason
, but it experienced a renaissance in the English-speaking world 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 part, Science of Right, is grounded in republican
interpretation of origins of political community
as civil society and establishment of positive law
. Published separately in 1797, Science of Right is one of the last examples of classical republicanism
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.
The alternative translation Doctrine of Right and Doctrine of Virtue is also used. This is the case in Kantian Ethics by Marcia Baron and the Blackwell Reference Online. Though they also use the alternative translation, Friedrich Heubel and Nikola Biller-Andorno state in the concluding remarks of Kant and Medical Ethics: "Kant regards his moral philosophy as science in the sense of methodological consciousness, strictness and systemic completeness."
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher from Königsberg , researching, lecturing and writing on philosophy and anthropology at the end of the 18th Century Enlightenment....
. 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 Reason
Critique of Practical Reason
The 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 in the English-speaking world 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 part, Science of Right, is grounded in republican
Republicanism
Republicanism 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...
interpretation of origins of political community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
as civil society and establishment of positive law
Positive law
Positive law is the term generally used to describe man-made laws which bestow specific privileges upon, or remove them from, an individual or group...
. Published separately in 1797, Science of Right is one of the last examples of classical republicanism
Classical republicanism
Classical republicanism is a form of republicanism developed in the Renaissance inspired by the governmental forms and writings of classical antiquity. The earliest examples of the school were classical writers such as Aristotle, Polybius, and Cicero...
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.
The alternative translation Doctrine of Right and Doctrine of Virtue is also used. This is the case in Kantian Ethics by Marcia Baron and the Blackwell Reference Online. Though they also use the alternative translation, Friedrich Heubel and Nikola Biller-Andorno state in the concluding remarks of Kant and Medical Ethics: "Kant regards his moral philosophy as science in the sense of methodological consciousness, strictness and systemic completeness."
Further reading
- The Metaphysics of Morals. Trans. Mary J. Gregor. Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
, 1996. ISBN 0-521-56673-8.
External links
- The Science of Right mv.helsinki.fi, full text
- Virtue (Kant) http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405106795_chunk_g978140510679523_ss1-32