Kantian Ethics and Moral Philosophy
Summary
Immanuel Kant’s moral philosophy establishes ethics on the basis of rationality and autonomy. Central to his system is the categorical imperative, which demands that agents act only on maxims they can will as universal laws, thereby ensuring consistency and impartiality. Kant distinguishes between duties of perfect obligation, which are strictly binding, and imperfect duties, which allow for moral discretion. His emphasis on autonomy portrays moral agents as self-legislating beings whose freedom is realised through adherence to the moral law. Key applications range from the formula of humanity, which enjoins respect for persons as ends in themselves, to the doctrine of right, which extends moral principles into juridical and political spheres. Over the past decade, scholarship has explored Kantian ethics in diverse contexts, from global justice to artificial moral agency, reaffirming its enduring influence and adaptability to contemporary challenges.
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Kantian Ethics and Moral Philosophy publication trend
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Technical terms
Categorical Imperative: Kant’s foundational moral principle requiring that one’s chosen maxim be capable of universal legislation without contradiction.
Autonomy: The capacity of a rational agent to give oneself the moral law and act in accordance with it.
Maxim: A subjective principle or rule that an individual adopts when choosing to act.
Regulative Idea: A pragmatic guideline of reason that directs inquiry and moral aspiration, without asserting empirical reality.
Volitional Self-Contradiction: A conflict that arises when one cannot simultaneously will a maxim as both a universal law and a personal action principle.
References
- Autonomous Reboot: Kant, the categorical imperative, and contemporary challenges for machine ethicists. AI & SOCIETY (2021).
- Interdependent Independence: Civil Self-Sufficiency and Productive Community in Kant’s Theory of Citizenship. Kantian Review (2022).
- Between Revolution and Reaction: The Political Significance of Kant’s Doctrine of the Idea. Archiv für Geschichte der Philosophie (2024).
- A Defense and Development of the Volitional Self-Contradiction Interpretation. Philosophia (2023).
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