The Metaphysics of Morals (German: Die Metaphysik der Sitten) is a 1797 work of political and moral philosophy by Immanuel Kant. It is divided into two sections: the Doctrine of Right, dealing with political rights, and the Doctrine of Virtue, dealing with ethical virtues.
The work is divided into two main parts, the Rechtslehre and the Tugendlehre. Mary J. Gregor's translation (1991) explains these German terms as, respectively, the Doctrine of Right, which deals with the rights that people have, and the Doctrine of Virtue, which deals with the virtues they ought to acquire.
Rechtslehre has also been translated as the Science of Right (Hastie) or the Metaphysical Elements of Justice (Ladd). It is grounded in republican interpretation of origins of political community as civil society and establishment of positive law. Published separately in 1797, the Doctrine of Right is one of the last examples of classical republicanism in political philosophy.[1] The Doctrine of Right contains the most mature of Kant's statements on the peace project and a system of law to ensure individual rights.
The Doctrine of Virtue develops Kant's ethical theory, which he had already laid the foundation in the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785). Kant particularly emphasizes treating humanity as an end in itself. The duties are analytically treated by Kant, who distinguishes duties towards ourselves from duties towards others. The duties are classified as perfect duties and imperfect duties. Kant thinks imperfect duties allow a latitudo, i.e., the possibility of choosing maxims. The perfect duties instead do not allow any latitudo.
Thus, Kant distinguishes "Virtue" and "Right": the "Doctrine of Right" contains rights as perfect duties towards others only.
Influenceedit
In the English-speaking world, the Metaphysics of Morals (1797) is not as well known as Kant's earlier works, the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785) and the Critique of Practical Reason (1788), but it has experienced a renaissance through the pioneering work of Mary J. Gregor.[2]
Translated by Anonymous (John Richardson), "Metaphysic of Morals divided into Metaphysical Elements of Law and of Ethics." 2 vols. (London [Hamburg]: William Richardson, 1799).
Translations of Part I:
Kant, Immanuel. The Philosophy of Law: An Exposition of the Fundamental Principles of Jurisprudence as the Science of Right. Translated by W. Hastie. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1887; reprinted by Augustus M. Kelly Publishers, Clifton, NJ, 1974. [introduction and all of part I]
Kant, Immanuel. The Metaphysical Elements of Justice; Part I of the Metaphysics of Morals. 1st ed. Translated by John Ladd. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1965. [introduction and most of part I]
Kant, Immanuel. The Metaphysics of Morals. In Kant: Political Writings. 2nd enl. ed. Edited by Hans Reiss. Translated by H. B. Nisbet. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991. [selections from part I]
Kant, Immanuel. The Metaphysical Elements of Justice; Part I of the Metaphysics of Morals. 2nd ed. Translated by John Ladd. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1999. [introduction and all of part I]
Kant, Immanuel. Metaphysics of Morals, Doctrine of Rights, Section 43-section 62. In Toward Perpetual Peace and Other Writings on Politics, Peace, and History. Edited by Pauline Kleingeld. Translated by David L. Colclasure. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006. [selections from part I, concerning public right]
Translations of Part II:
Kant, Immanuel, The Doctrine of Virtue. Translated by Mary J. Gregor. New York: Harper & Row Torchbooks, 1964; reprinted by the University of Pennsylvania Press, 1971.
Translated by James Wesley Ellington, in Ethical Philosophy. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1983 [1964]. [Part II]
Translated by John William Semple, "The Metaphysic of Ethics." Edinburgh: Thomas Clark, 1836; Reprint editions include 1871, ed. Henry Calderwood (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark). [Introduction and portions of part II]
^Manfred Riedel, Between Tradition and Revolution: The Hegelian Transformation of Political Philosophy, Cambridge 1984.
^See in particular her 1963 book, Laws of Freedom.
External linksedit
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
The Philosophy of Law
The Philosophy of Law: An Exposition of the Fundamental Principles of Jurisprudence as the Science of Right, full text of the introduction and part I of the Metaphysics of Morals.
An explanation of the division between the two parts, and what Kant means by virtue.
Die Metaphysik der Sitten, full German text of the Metaphysics of Morals (from Korpora).
Book Review of Mary Gregor's 1991 translation of the Metaphysics of Morals, by Steven Palmquist.
Kant and the Moral Necessity of Civil Society, full text of political theory work by Dr. Jacqueline Augustine.
November 16, 2023
metaphysics, morals, german, metaphysik, sitten, 1797, work, political, moral, philosophy, immanuel, kant, divided, into, sections, doctrine, right, dealing, with, political, rights, doctrine, virtue, dealing, with, ethical, virtues, cover, first, editionautho. The Metaphysics of Morals German Die Metaphysik der Sitten is a 1797 work of political and moral philosophy by Immanuel Kant It is divided into two sections the Doctrine of Right dealing with political rights and the Doctrine of Virtue dealing with ethical virtues Metaphysics of MoralsCover of the first editionAuthorImmanuel KantOriginal titleDie Metaphysik der SittenTranslatorMary J GregorCountryGermanyLanguageGermanSubjectEthicsPublished1797Media typePrintIn this work Kant develops the political and ethical philosophy for which the Groundwork and Critique of Practical Reason provide the foundation Contents 1 Summary 2 Influence 3 English translations 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksSummary editThe work is divided into two main parts the Rechtslehre and the Tugendlehre Mary J Gregor s translation 1991 explains these German terms as respectively the Doctrine of Right which deals with the rights that people have and the Doctrine of Virtue which deals with the virtues they ought to acquire Rechtslehre has also been translated as the Science of Right Hastie or the Metaphysical Elements of Justice Ladd It is grounded in republican interpretation of origins of political community as civil society and establishment of positive law Published separately in 1797 the Doctrine of Right is one of the last examples of classical republicanism in political philosophy 1 The Doctrine of Right contains the most mature of Kant s statements on the peace project and a system of law to ensure individual rights The Doctrine of Virtue develops Kant s ethical theory which he had already laid the foundation in the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals 1785 Kant particularly emphasizes treating humanity as an end in itself The duties are analytically treated by Kant who distinguishes duties towards ourselves from duties towards others The duties are classified as perfect duties and imperfect duties Kant thinks imperfect duties allow a latitudo i e the possibility of choosing maxims The perfect duties instead do not allow any latitudo Thus Kant distinguishes Virtue and Right the Doctrine of Right contains rights as perfect duties towards others only Influence editIn the English speaking world the Metaphysics of Morals 1797 is not as well known as Kant s earlier works the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals 1785 and the Critique of Practical Reason 1788 but it has experienced a renaissance through the pioneering work of Mary J Gregor 2 English translations editTranslations of the entire book Kant Immanuel 1991 The Metaphysics of Morals Translated by Mary J Gregor Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 30372 9 via Internet Archive Kant Immanuel The Metaphysics of Morals Translated by Mary J Gregor Cambridge University Press 1996 ISBN 0 521 56673 8 Kant Immanuel The Metaphysics of Morals In Practical Philosophy Edited by Mary J Gregor Cambridge University Press 1996 Translated by Anonymous John Richardson Metaphysic of Morals divided into Metaphysical Elements of Law and of Ethics 2 vols London Hamburg William Richardson 1799 Translations of Part I Kant Immanuel The Philosophy of Law An Exposition of the Fundamental Principles of Jurisprudence as the Science of Right Translated by W Hastie Edinburgh T amp T Clark 1887 reprinted by Augustus M Kelly Publishers Clifton NJ 1974 introduction and all of part I Kant Immanuel The Metaphysical Elements of Justice Part I of the Metaphysics of Morals 1st ed Translated by John Ladd Indianapolis Bobbs Merrill 1965 introduction and most of part I Kant Immanuel The Metaphysics of Morals In Kant Political Writings 2nd enl ed Edited by Hans Reiss Translated by H B Nisbet Cambridge Cambridge University Press 1991 selections from part I Kant Immanuel The Metaphysical Elements of Justice Part I of the Metaphysics of Morals 2nd ed Translated by John Ladd Indianapolis Bobbs Merrill 1999 introduction and all of part I Kant Immanuel Metaphysics of Morals Doctrine of Rights Section 43 section 62 In Toward Perpetual Peace and Other Writings on Politics Peace and History Edited by Pauline Kleingeld Translated by David L Colclasure New Haven Yale University Press 2006 selections from part I concerning public right Translations of Part II Kant Immanuel The Doctrine of Virtue Translated by Mary J Gregor New York Harper amp Row Torchbooks 1964 reprinted by the University of Pennsylvania Press 1971 Translated by James Wesley Ellington in Ethical Philosophy Indianapolis Hackett 1983 1964 Part II Translated by John William Semple The Metaphysic of Ethics Edinburgh Thomas Clark 1836 Reprint editions include 1871 ed Henry Calderwood Edinburgh T amp T Clark Introduction and portions of part II See also edit nbsp Books portal nbsp Philosophy portal nbsp Psychology portal1797 in literature Anthropology Ethics Immanuel Kant bibliography The Critique of Practical Reason The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Religion Within the Boundaries of Mere Reason Kantianism Philosophy of lifeReferences edit Manfred Riedel Between Tradition and Revolution The Hegelian Transformation of Political Philosophy Cambridge 1984 See in particular her 1963 book Laws of Freedom External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article The Philosophy of Law The Philosophy of Law An Exposition of the Fundamental Principles of Jurisprudence as the Science of Right full text of the introduction and part I of the Metaphysics of Morals An explanation of the division between the two parts and what Kant means by virtue Die Metaphysik der Sitten full German text of the Metaphysics of Morals from Korpora Book Review of Mary Gregor s 1991 translation of the Metaphysics of Morals by Steven Palmquist Kant and the Moral Necessity of Civil Society full text of political theory work by Dr Jacqueline Augustine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Metaphysics of Morals amp oldid 1179311118, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
