Kant's Metaphysics of Morals
A Critical Guide

This volume explores the themes of Kant's final major work of practical philosophy, providing new insight into his moral and political theory.

Lara Denis (Edited by)

9781107406995, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 August 2012

286 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.38 kg

'The book attempts to bridge the gap between German and English-language scholarship. Flikschuh, Wood, and Byrd in particular incorporate German secondary literature.' Georg Cavallar, The European Legacy

Immanuel Kant's Metaphysics of Morals (1797), containing the Doctrine of Right and Doctrine of Virtue, is his final major work of practical philosophy. Its focus is not rational beings in general but human beings in particular, and it presupposes and deepens Kant's earlier accounts of morality, freedom and moral psychology. In this volume of newly-commissioned essays, a distinguished team of contributors explores the Metaphysics of Morals in relation to Kant's earlier works, as well as examining themes which emerge from the text itself. Topics include the relation between right and virtue, property, punishment, and moral feeling. Their diversity of questions, perspectives and approaches will provide new insights into the work for scholars in Kant's moral and political theory.

Acknowledgements
List of contributors
Citation method
Introduction
1. Kant's Metaphysics of Morals: the history and significance of its deferral Manfred Kuehn
2. Reason, desire, and the will Steven Engstrom
3. Justice without virtue Katrin Flikschuh
4. Kant's innate right as a rational criterion for human rights Otfried Höffe
5. Intelligible possession of objects of choice B. Sharon Byrd
6. Punishment, retribution, and the coercive enforcement of right Allen W. Wood
7. Moral feelings in the Metaphysics of Morals Paul Guyer
8. What is the enemy of virtue? Jeanine Grenberg
9. Freedom, primacy, and perfect duties to oneself Lara Denis
10. Duties to and regarding others Robert N. Johnson
11. Duties regarding animals Patrick Kain
12. Kant's Tugendlehre as normative ethics Thomas E. Hill, Jr
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Social & political philosophy [HPS], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ], Western philosophy: c 1600 to c 1900 [HPCD]