Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals
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- 100+
- First published
- 1785
- Pages
- 95
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0 Preface
18:39 -
1 Transition from the common rational knowledge of morality to the philosophical
35:47 -
2 Transition from popular moral philosophy to the metaphysic of morals, part 1
35:19 -
3 Transition from popular moral philosophy to the metaphysic of morals, part 2
37:37 -
4 Transition from popular moral philosophy to the metaphysic of morals, part 3
36:40 -
5 Final step from the metaphysic of morals to the critique of the pure practical reason
37:38
Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals (1785) is a public domain work.
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About this book
Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals is the standard older English translation of Immanuel Kant's Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten, first published in German in 1785. Modern English translations more typically render the title as Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, but the older translation has remained in print and continues to be widely read. The book is one of the central texts in modern moral philosophy and is the work in which Kant set out the foundations of his ethical system.
Kant, who lived from 1724 to 1804, was the leading German philosopher of the late eighteenth century and one of the central figures in the history of Western philosophy. His ethical work belongs to the larger critical philosophy that he developed across the major works of his mature career, including the Critique of Pure Reason of 1781 and the Critique of Practical Reason of 1788. The Groundwork is the briefer and more accessible statement of his ethical position that the longer Critique of Practical Reason would develop in more technical detail.
The central argument of the book is the famous Categorical Imperative, which Kant presents in several different formulations. The most quoted is the universal law formulation. Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. The book also presents the humanity formulation, which directs the reader to treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means. These formulations are meant to capture what Kant believed to be the actual structure of genuine moral reasoning as opposed to the various pseudo moral motives that he believed actually drive most human conduct.
The argument is carried out at a high level of abstraction throughout, in the technical philosophical German that Kant had developed for the critical works. The Groundwork is the most accessible point of entry into Kant's ethics but it still requires substantial patience and concentration from the reader. For readers approaching Kant for the first time, this is the recommended starting point in his ethical work. It pairs naturally with the Critique of Practical Reason and with the Metaphysics of Morals that completed his ethical system.
From the opening pages
Nothing can possibly be conceived in the world, or even out of it, which can be called good, without qualification, except a good will. Intelligence, wit, judgement, and the other talents of the mind, however they may be named, or courage, resolution, perseverance, as qualities of temperament, are undoubtedly good and desirable in many respects; but these gifts of nature may also become extremely bad and mischievous if the will which is to make use of them, and which, therefore, constitutes what is called character, is not good. It is the same with the gifts of fortune. Power, riches, honour, even health, and the general well-being and contentment with one's condition which is called happiness, inspire pride, and often presumption, if there is not a good will to correct the influence of these on the mind, and with this also to rectify the whole principle of acting and adapt it to its end. The sight of a being who is not adorned with a single feature of a pure and good will, enjoying unbroken prosperity, can never give pleasure to an impartial rational spectator. Thus a good will appears to constitute the indispensable condition even of being worthy of happiness.
There are even some qualities which are of service to this good will itself and may facilitate its action, yet which have no intrinsic unconditional value, but always presuppose a good will, and this qualifies the esteem that we justly have for them and does not permit us to regard them as absolutely good. Moderation in the affections and passions, self-control, and calm deliberation are not only good in many respects, but even seem to constitute part of the intrinsic worth of the person; but they are far from deserving to be called good without qualification, although they have been so unconditionally praised by the ancients. For without the principles of a good will, they may become extremely bad, and the coolness of a villain not only makes him far more dangerous, but also directly makes him more abominable in our eyes than he would have been without it.
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Book facts
- Author
- Immanuel Kant
- First published
- 1785
- Reading time
- About 2 hours
- Pages
- 95
- Language
- English
- Genre
- Non-Fiction
- Formats
- PDF, EPUB, Read online, Audiobook