Kant on Civil Society and Welfare

This Element examines the competing interpretations of Kant's larger political theory founding social welfare claims.

Sarah Holtman (Author)

9781108438742, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 18 October 2018

102 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 0.5 cm, 0.14 kg

What justifies state-sponsored supports for individual welfare within a Kantian political system, as well as the purpose and extent of such supports and the form they may take, are vexed questions. This Element characterizes and assesses main contenders (including minimalist and middle-ground accounts) by examining the competing interpretations of Kant's larger political theory that found their social welfare claims. It then develops and defends an alternative based in civic respect. This emphasizes the perspective and institutional commitments that Kant's model of citizenship entails and what is required to respect each as both a person and a participant in joint governance.

Subject Areas: Social & political philosophy [HPS], Western philosophy: c 1600 to c 1900 [HPCD], Philosophy [HP]