The metaphysics of morals

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The Metaphysics of Morals is the work of the philosopher Immanuel Kant on law and virtue , published in 1797 . The metaphysics of morals is the elaboration of practical philosophy on the basis of the theory of morality, which Kant had developed in the writings Basis for the Metaphysics of Morals and Critique of Practical Reason , the core of which is the foundation of the categorical imperative . The Metaphysics of Morals contains two fundamentally separate parts, the Metaphysical Foundations of Legal Doctrine and the Metaphysical Foundations of Virtue Doctrine .

In the doctrine of law, Kant treats the morally required action of the external relationships between people, which is reflected in positive law. In the doctrine of virtue, on the other hand, he deals with the inner, merely subjective standards that characterize moral action. Only the purposes that people set themselves apply here, while the interests of other people must also be taken into account in the external relationship. The duty of virtue is based on an internal compulsion, the legal obligation on an external compulsion. By designating the entire work and the two main parts as metaphysical, Kant expresses the fact that he is working out principles that are derived solely from reason and are not based on experience.

introduction

Historically, the doctrine of law was published as an independent text about half a year earlier than the doctrine of virtue. The legal doctrine therefore contains, after a short preface, an introduction to the metaphysics of morals and then a second introduction to the metaphysical foundations of legal theory. The doctrine of virtue, for its part, has its own introduction, which also refers to the general introduction to the metaphysics of morals.

In the introduction to the metaphysics of morals, Kant explains why moral doctrine cannot be built on empirical experience, but rather has to be built on general reasoning. Everyone has a “capacity for desire”, that is, wishes and desires that are not based on considerations and conclusions. The capacity for desire is expressed in the desire or reluctance to do something or not. Such feelings are purely subjective. Unlike purely instinct-controlled animals, humans can respond to their desires. He has the practical freedom to think about possible consequences of action, to evaluate them and to influence his actions based on reasons. Man has a will and can act according to his will. He acts in a morally sensible way when he follows reasons which are derived solely from deliberations and which ignore desires. The basic moral principle, which is also reflected in the categorical imperative, is respect for the other person with equal rights. Reason dictates always recognizing the human being as a person :

"Everyone has a legitimate claim to respect from his fellow men, and for this purpose he is mutually connected to everyone else." (TL, VI, 462)

Notes on legal theory

Kant postulates the innate right of every person to freedom . In his view, it is the task of law to reconcile the exercise of individual freedom with the freedom of everyone under a general law .

The constitutional law is the emergence of a political order in which the sovereign - the people - freedom and equality guarantees all citizens. The separation of powers is an indispensable prerequisite for the functioning of the state under freedom laws . If these conditions are met, however, there is no right of resistance to state decisions.

The cosmopolitan law (ius cosmopoliticum ) governs the Community coexistence of nations to prevent wars.

Notes on Virtue Doctrine

One of the duties of virtue towards other people, Kant counts, is “ respect ” for fellow human beings as an acknowledgment of their human dignity . The command is never to use people as a means , but always as an end in itself.

The duty of virtue towards oneself serves - based on the idea and as a moral purpose - to perfect one's own personality. Nevertheless, this is only a moral intention, the implementation of which can be very imperfectly realized due to a lack of self-knowledge.

See also: Foundation for the Metaphysics of Morals , For Eternal Peace , Religion within the Limits of Mere Reason .

Quote

"Every action is right , which or according to whose maxim the freedom of arbitrariness of everyone can exist together with everyone's freedom according to a general law."

literature

  • Immanuel Kant: Metaphysical foundations of the doctrine of virtue. In: Kant's works. Academy text output. Vol. 6: Religion within the limits of mere reason. The metaphysics of morals . Unchanged photomechanical impression of Kant's collected writings. Published by the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, Volume VI, Berlin 1907/14. de Gruyter, Berlin 1968 [1797], ISBN 3-11-001439-4 , pp. 203-492.
  • Wilhelm Weischedel (Ed.): Immanuel Kant: Works. in 6 volumes, Volume 4: Writings on ethics and Philosophy of religion. WBG, Darmstadt 1956. (1998, ISBN 3-534-13918-6 )
  • Wolfgang Kersting: Well-ordered freedom. Immanuel Kant's legal and state philosophy. 3. Edition. Paderborn 2007, ISBN 978-3-89785-587-8 .
  • Ottfried Höffe (Ed.): Klassiker Auslegen, Vol. 19: Immanuel Kant, “Metaphysical Beginnings of Legal Teaching”. Akademie Verlag, Berlin 1999, ISBN 3-05-003025-9 .
  • Georg Römpp: Kant's Critique of Pure Freedom A discussion of the 'metaphysics of morals'. Duncker & Humblot 2006, ISBN 3-428-11972-X .
  • Lara Denis (Ed.): Kant's Metaphysics of Morals. A critical guide. (= Cambridge critical guides). Cambridge 2010.

Web links

Primary text
Secondary literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Immanuel Kant: Metaphysical Beginnings of Legal Doctrine. In: Kant's works. Academy text output. Vol. 6. de Gruyter, Berlin 1968 [1797], p. 230.