Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals
Friday, November 13th, 2009 at
8:53 pm
Product Description
Ancient Greek philosophy was divided into three sciences: physics, ethics, and logic. This division is perfectly suitable to the nature of the thing; and the only improvement that can be made in it is to add the principle on which it is based, so that we may both satisfy ourselves of its completeness, and also be able to determine correctly the necessary subdivisions
Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals
Share it with others!
Tagged with: Fundamental • Metaphysic • Morals • Principles
Filed under: Tarot And Psychic Skills- Recommended Materials
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Kant is not considered as one of the more accessible philosophers, and most of his monumental works are too long and beyond reach of an average reader. This short book is still fairly advanced and conceptually sophisticated, but fortunately due to its length it does not go much too deep in philosophical concepts. The book deals on several occasions with the central concept in Kant’s moral philosophy, and that is the concept of categorical imperative. This imperative can be summed up in Kant’s famous dictum: “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” Several other famous Kant concepts – like practical reason, pure reason, treating humans like ends and not as means in moral considerations, etc. – are dealt with throughout the book. You might need to read the book several times before you get a better understanding of what is being discussed, but again, since it is so short, this can be easily done. The language of the translation sounds a bit archaic to the modern ear, but this does not obscure the meaning at all. Overall, reading this book would be a worthwhile endeavor and as good of a starting point to start reading Kant as they come.
Rating: 4 / 5
This short compendium is noteworthy in its pith. Kant can say an awful lot in a short book. To get the full value of this read, be sure to take plenty of notes and re read it in a few months when you have mulled the book over, perhaps talking to friends about it.
There is one essential concept here and of course that is morals. How do we come by them and how do we distinguish them. In contemporary America, the most strident and vocal “moralists” will explain that it takes the acceptance of a personal God. Kant makes us look more closely at this concept.
Essentially he distinguishes between a moral that has “ends”. We do the right thing, perhaps even the noblest thing because of various ends. Those may include the good graces of others who admire your morality or the desire to avoid the shame of acting in an immoral fashion for two examples.
Rating: 5 / 5