Kant's Practical Philosophy Research Papers (original) (raw)
Contrary to Reinhold's theoretical discussion of Kant's philosophy, his practical critique and its underlying action theory and theory of freedom have been neglected in scholarship. In my paper, I shall reconstruct Reinhold’s practical... more
Contrary to Reinhold's theoretical discussion of Kant's philosophy, his practical critique and its underlying action theory and theory of freedom have been neglected in scholarship. In my paper, I shall reconstruct Reinhold’s practical philosophy after Kant. For that purpose, I will concentrate on the so-called “Reinhold’s Dilemma,” which concerns the problem of moral imputability in the case of evil actions in Kant. I show how Reinhold tried to escape this dilemma by introducing an elaborated action theory and theory of individual freedom. I shall argue that Reinhold’s account of freedom to act according and against the moral law is not best understood in terms of freedom of indifference, but rather in terms of a freedom to balance reasons on the basis of first and second-order volitions. I shall also discuss Kant’s attempt to escape Reinhold’s Dilemma in his late Metaphysics of Morals. Finally, I will evaluate Reinhold’s systematic siginificance by relating his theory of individual freedom with recent conceptions of volitional self-determination.
Forthcoming in Philosophical Review.
O presente trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar o modus operandi da produção audiovisual intitulada “Esclarecimento” com discussões importantes para o campo da Comunicação ao analisar por meio da Teoria Crítica da Sociedade elementos... more
O presente trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar o modus operandi da produção audiovisual intitulada “Esclarecimento” com discussões importantes para o campo da Comunicação ao analisar por meio da Teoria Crítica da Sociedade elementos provindos da filosofia kantiana, sobretudo o uso da Razão Emancipatória, o processo de transformação da Razão em instrumento a serviço do capitalismo, a produção da Indústria Cultural e os impactos que essa instrumentalização provocaram no homem. O vídeo foi produzido em formato de revista eletrônica, possui uma linguagem acessível com fins de divulgação científica. É constituído por quatro matérias, à maneira de videotape, com imagens e vídeos alusivos aos conceitos-chave da Teoria Crítica. Há também uma entrevista exclusiva com um professor Doutor sobre as perspectivas de emancipação ou não do indivíduo, proposto pela teoria.
Abstract: Highlighting the debate with Rousseau, my objective in this paper is to stress, through the analysis of some of these Notes and with the aid of some passages of other texts, the new Kant`s conceptions on the religion and... more
Abstract: Highlighting the debate with Rousseau, my objective in this paper is to stress,
through the analysis of some of these Notes and with the aid of some passages of other
texts, the new Kant`s conceptions on the religion and theodicy in the middle of 1760.
Specifically, I try to show that by critically appropriating Rousseau's thought, Kant is led to
the first formulations of an innovative answer to the questions of moral evil and God's
justice. This answer will result in the rupture with Leibniz and consequently in the contours
more essential of the ethics and philosophy of religion which will appear as definitive
philosophical doctrines in Kant`s maturity.
Keywords: evil, theodicy, justice, order, practical reason.
Medical ethics is the study of ethics in the context of modern medical practices, medical personnel, technologies, and institutions. The study of medical ethics is indispensable for training ethically informed professionals in a variety... more
Medical ethics is the study of ethics in the context of modern medical practices, medical personnel, technologies, and institutions. The study of medical ethics is indispensable for training ethically informed professionals in a variety of medical fields. • In this course we will utilize a case-study approach in order to explore the personal, historical, legal, economic, and political dimensions of medical ethical issues. • Lectures will be given on normative ethical theory and Rawlsian, Marxist, and Libertarian theories of justice in order to facilitate informed discussion. Collaborative learning and class participation will be of vital importance in this class.
In the second Critique, Kant argues that for the highest good to be possible we need to postulate the existence of God and the immortality of the soul in a future world. In his other writings, however, he suggests that the highest good is... more
In the second Critique, Kant argues that for the highest good to be possible we need to postulate the existence of God and the immortality of the soul in a future world. In his other writings, however, he suggests that the highest good is attainable through mere human agency in this world. Based on the apparent incoherence between these texts, Andrews Reath, among others, argues that Kant’s texts reveal two competing conceptions of the highest good, namely a secular and a theological conception. In this paper, I argue that Kant has a coherent conception of the highest good which applies to two different domains, namely the domain of the individual humans and the domain of the human species.
Le présent article interroge la capacité des théoriques éthiques à justifier ou non la GPA en général, et plus spécifiquement, à se prononcer sur une possible légalisation en France dans les années à venir. Il montre que, contrairement à... more
Le présent article interroge la capacité des théoriques éthiques à justifier ou non la GPA en général, et plus spécifiquement, à se prononcer sur une possible légalisation en France dans les années à venir. Il montre que, contrairement à une idée reçue, l'argument kantien de la dignité humaine ne permet pas de conclure à son illégitimité. Les théories contractualistes et conséquentialistes permettent de la justifier sous certaines conditions mais un certain nombre d'arguments posent problème. Je suggère que l'utilitarisme des raisons développé par Derek Parfit offre certains éléments de réponse. Abstract : The present paper questions the capacity of ethical theories to justify or not surrogacy, generally speaking, and more specifically to find for or against the legalization of surrogacy in France in a foreseeing future. It shows that, contrary to a popular belief, the kantian idea of human dignity is of no use here. Contractualist and consequentialist theories can justify surrogacy under certain conditions but their arguments is no without raising issues. I suggest Derek Parfit's reason utilitarianism can offer some valuable answers to these difficulties.
Anthropogenic climate change poses a considerable threat to human life on planet Earth. Extreme weather, water stress, crop failure and the spread of diseases are among the eff ects of climate change that are already being felt around the... more
Anthropogenic climate change poses a considerable threat to human life on planet Earth. Extreme weather, water stress, crop failure and the spread of diseases are among the eff ects of climate change that are already being felt around the globe. However, climate change does not pose a threat to all life: nature can certainly adapt to new conditions. The question is if we can adapt. Since global warming is already a reality and can no longer be averted, addressing climate change involves two types of measures: mitigation (attempts to curb and regulate greenhouse gas emissions and restrain individual consumer lifestyles) and adaptation to new living conditions (fi nancially supporting farmers aff ected by droughts, relocating residents threatened by rising sea levels, addressing new epidemics and climate migration). Sadly, experience shows that the more vulnerable the population aff ected by the adverse eff ects of climate change, and the greater the danger to their subsistence and physical integrity, the less the political will to support them. Kant's ethical theory provides normative guidance concerning our duties to others and to ourselves. It is no surprise that climate ethics has also turned to Kant and to Kantian inspired theories in search of normative principles for dealing with the challenges of climate change and spelling out what we owe to each other in this regard. While I do not dispute that there are important individual ethical duties in regard to climate change, the problem is that the focus on individual virtue and individual agency seems inadequate in the face of the urgency to mitigate the impact of climate change. Although I propose in this article a Kantian approach to climate change, I will start by explaining the limitations of applying Kant's ethical theory to the problem of climate change. Climate change is a global problem that calls for urgent collective action not only at the domestic level but 9781138700000_pi-257.indd 99 9781138700000_pi-257.indd 99
Iris Murdoch, Harry Frankfurt, and Michael Stocker all criticize modern (and especially liberal) moral theories for failing to accommodate love's apparent foundational importance. In this paper, I argue that these concerns highlight a... more
Iris Murdoch, Harry Frankfurt, and Michael Stocker all criticize modern (and especially liberal) moral theories for failing to accommodate love's apparent foundational importance. In this paper, I argue that these concerns highlight a real weakness of liberal morality, but that love as such does not offer a real alternative to liberal ethics. As such, we should seek a moral theory that accommodates love but does not leave it unrestrained. I then argue that Kantian ethics does precisely this, insofar as Kant's duty of charity or beneficence requires that we form and act on partiality toward those whom we benefit. I argue that the phenomenology of partial motivation on this view answers Murdoch, Frankfurt, and Stocker's objections and provides a useful gloss on Marcia Baron's analysis of primary and secondary motivations.
If the greatness of a philosophical work can be measured by the volume and vehemence of the public response, there is little question that Rousseau's Social Contract stands out as a masterpiece. Within a week of its publication in 1762 it... more
If the greatness of a philosophical work can be measured by the volume and vehemence of the public response, there is little question that Rousseau's Social Contract stands out as a masterpiece. Within a week of its publication in 1762 it was banished from France. Soon thereafter, Rousseau fled to Geneva, where he saw the book burned in public. At the same time, many of his contemporaries, such as Kant, considered Rousseau to be “the Newton of the moral world,” as he was the first philosopher to draw attention to the basic dignity of human nature. The Social Contract has never ceased to be read in the 250 years since it was written. Rousseau's “Social Contract”: An Introduction offers a thorough and systematic tour of this notoriously paradoxical and challenging text. David Lay Williams offers readers a chapter-by-chapter reading of the Social Contract, squarely confronting these interpretive obstacles, leaving no stones unturned. The conclusion connects Rousseau's text both to his important influences and those who took inspiration and sometimes exception to his arguments. The book also features a special extended appendix dedicated to outlining his famous conception of the general will, which has been the object of controversy since the Social Contract's publication.
Die sog. Preisschrift über die Fortschritte der Metaphysik hat in den letzten Jahren überraschend wenig Aufmerksamkeit in der Kantforschung erfahren. Das beginnt sich erst langsam zu ändern, bedingt vor allem durch das Wiedereinsetzen... more
Die sog. Preisschrift über die Fortschritte der Metaphysik hat in den letzten Jahren überraschend wenig Aufmerksamkeit in der Kantforschung erfahren. Das beginnt sich erst langsam zu ändern, bedingt vor allem durch das Wiedereinsetzen eines allgemeinen Interesses an Metaphysik, aber auch durch die Wiederentdeckung der Einsicht, dass die kantische Philosophie nicht nur ihren Ursprung in der nach-wolffschen Philosophie des 18. Jahrhunderts hat, sondern dass Kant mit seinen Fragestellungen insgesamt dieser philosophischen Strömung sehr viel näher bleibt, als die bislang eher auf die empiristische Tradition hin ausgelegten Interpretationsansätze bemerkt haben. Die Beiträge dieses Bandes thematisieren den metaphysischen Ursprung und die metaphysische Stoßrichtung der kantischen Philosophie. Das geschieht vor allem im Ausgang von und mit Blick auf die kantische Preisschrift, die eine besondere Stellung in Kants Werk einnimmt. Ausgehend von dieser Schrift wird einerseits ein Blick zurück auf die Entwicklung der kritischen Philosophie sowie deren Architektonik in Abgrenzung zur rationalistischen Schulphilosophie geworfen und andererseits ein Blick nach vorn zur vermeintlich nachkritischen Revision der Systematik im Opus postumum.
The objective of this paper is to provide a critical analysis of the Kantian notion of freedom (especially the problem of the third antinomy and its resolution in the critique of pure reason); its significance in the... more
The objective of this paper is to provide a critical analysis of the Kantian notion of freedom (especially the problem of the third antinomy and its resolution in the critique of pure reason); its significance in the contemporary debate on free-will and determinism, and the possibility of autonomy of artificial agency in the Kantian paradigm of autonomy. Kant's resolution of the third antinomy by positing the ground in the noumenal self resolves the problem of antinomies; however, invites an explanatory gap between phenomenality and the noumenal self; even if he has successfully established the compatibility of natural causality and non-natural causality through his transcendental argument. This paper is also devoted to establish the plausibility of the knowledge claim that Kantian reduction of phenomenality has served half of the purpose of the AI scientists on the possibility of Artificial Autonomous Agency.
Massimo Cacciari ist einer der bedeutendsten zeitgenössischen Philosophen Italiens. Dieses Buch ist die erste umfassende deutschsprachige Monographie zu seinem Denkweg. In Auseinandersetzung mit dem spekulativen Denken von Augustinus bis... more
Massimo Cacciari ist einer der bedeutendsten zeitgenössischen Philosophen Italiens. Dieses Buch ist die erste umfassende deutschsprachige Monographie zu seinem Denkweg. In Auseinandersetzung mit dem spekulativen Denken von Augustinus bis Schelling und dem christlichen Trinitäts- und Schöpfungsgedanken entwickelt er die kühne Idee eines Anfangs vor allem Ursprung - um der absoluten und gelösten Freiheit Gottes und der Menschen willen. Von da her kommt er zu überraschenden Einsichten in die theologisch-metaphysischen und politischen Gesetze der europäischen Kulturgeschichte, die einen kritischen Doppelblick auf das Woher und Wozu von Sein und Denken, eine theologische Relektüre klassicher Themen und eine Stellungnahme ermöglichen und erfordern.
A theory of evil should explain the difference between evils and wrongs. But once a theory of evil has been developed, how do we defend or refute it? The most commonly used method for doing this to provide pro-examples and... more
A theory of evil should explain the difference between evils and wrongs. But once a theory of evil has been developed, how do we defend or refute it? The most commonly used method for doing this to provide pro-examples and counter-examples respectively. I argue that this method, by itself, is insufficient. To supplement it I argue that we should also focus on five key theoretical virtues that a theory of evil should have. These are: 1) meshing well with important theories of moral wrongdoing; 2) being based on a plausible moral psychology; 3) explaining the basis of our judgments about evil; 4) being able to alter, revise and expand our judgments about evil; and 5) being pitched at the right level of generality. In order to illustrate these virtues in depth I argue that my combination theory of evil has these five virtues to a high degree.
In this paper I examine Kant’s discussion of freedom in the Metaphysics of Morals, while devoting special attention to the question as to whether indeed, as many commentators have claimed, it contains a solution to an objection raised by... more
In this paper I examine Kant’s discussion of freedom in the Metaphysics of Morals, while devoting special attention to the question as to whether indeed, as many commentators have claimed, it contains a solution to an objection raised by Carl Leonhard Reinhold in the collected edition of his Letters on the Kantian Philosophy and again by Henry Sidgwick in a famous paper published in 1888. In the first section, I provide a concise formulation of what I believe to be the core of Reinhold’s and Sidgwick’s objection under the title “Objection R/S” and then describe the general structure of the predominant strategy by which commentators have tried to avoid it through recourse to a famous passage in the Metaphysics of Morals. In the second, I recount just enough of the history behind this passage to provide a proper context for its interpretation and, in particular, to show its historical link to Objection R/S. In the remaining sections, I argue that the passage pointed to by commentators does not and indeed cannot contain any solution along the lines so far suggested. By way of conclusion, I consider whether the results I have reached cohere with other passages from Kant’s works and briefly suggest but leave undeveloped an alternative strategy for meeting Objection R/S.
My theme is ‘life-writing’, understood as the shaping of one's life through the contemplation of values, although this activity is mostly unreflective. To become an art so that one's life can be shaped in greater accord with clearly held... more
Kant's most prominent formulation of the Categorical Imperative, known as the Formula of Universal Law (FUL), is generally thought to demand that one act only on maxims that one can will as universal laws without this generating a... more
Kant's most prominent formulation of the Categorical Imperative, known as the Formula of Universal Law (FUL), is generally thought to demand that one act only on maxims that one can will as universal laws without this generating a contradiction. Kant's view is standardly summarized as requiring the 'universalizability' of one's maxims and described in terms of the distinction between 'contradictions in conception' and 'contradictions in the will'. Focusing on the underappreciated significance of the simultaneity condition included in the FUL, I argue, by contrast, that the principle is better read as requiring that one be able to will two things simultaneously without self-contradiction, namely, that a maxim be one's own and that it be a universal law. This amounts to a new interpretation of the FUL with significant interpretive and philosophical advantages.
Provides a brief, but relatively systematic introduction to the basic elements of Kant's critical methodology. Begins by discussing how Kant conceives of the proper ends of rational inquiry, and how those ends inform his conception of the... more
Provides a brief, but relatively systematic introduction to the basic elements of Kant's critical methodology. Begins by discussing how Kant conceives of the proper ends of rational inquiry, and how those ends inform his conception of the proper methodology for philosophy. Then discusses the foundational role that self-conscious capacities play within Kant's philosophical system. Concludes by discussing Kant's famous claim that the philosopher - unlike the mathematician - must be a legislator, and not an artist, of reason.