Kant's Theory of Normativity
Exploring the Space of Reason

A milestone in Kant scholarship, this interpretation of his critical philosophy makes sense of his notorious 'synthetic judgments a priori'.

Konstantin Pollok (Author)

9781107127807, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 February 2017

350 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.1 cm, 0.64 kg

'Kant's Theory of Normativity is a fascinating, outstandingly structured and extensive research into the core of Kant's critical philosophy. Its all-encompassing perspective not only casts light on different problematic aspects of Kant's thought but, most importantly, lets the reader realize how these different aspects are all traceable back to reason's attempt to self-legislate its own demands.' Luigi Filieri, Studi Kantiani

Konstantin Pollok offers the first book-length analysis of Kant's theory of normativity that covers foundational issues in theoretical and practical philosophy as well as aesthetics. Interpreting Kant's 'critical turn' as a normative turn, he argues that Kant's theory of normativity is both original and radical: it departs from the perfectionist ideal of early modern rationalism, and arrives at an unprecedented framework of synthetic a priori principles that determine the validity of our judgments. Pollok examines the hylomorphism in Kant's theory of normativity and relates Kant's idea of our reason's self-legislation to the 'natural right' tradition, revealing Kant's debt to his predecessors as well as his relevance to contemporary debates on normativity. This book will appeal to academic researchers and advanced students of Kant, early modern philosophy and intellectual history.

Preface and acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Part I. From the Clarity of Ideas to the Validity of Judgments: 1. Kant's farewell to perfectionism
2. The concept of judgment and the divisions of philosophy
3. Kant's taxonomy of judgments
Part II. Kant's Transcendental Hylomorphism: 4. Hylomorphism and normativity
5. Determinable sensibility and intellectual determination
Part III. The Legislation of Pure Reason: 6. 'Reason prescribes laws to us'
7. The normativity of judgments of experience
8. The normativity of practical judgments
9. The normativity of judgments of taste
Epilogue: Kant's moderate forms of transcendental and political idealism
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ], Philosophy: aesthetics [HPN], Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology [HPJ], Western philosophy: c 1600 to c 1900 [HPCD]