The Philosophy Of Law: An Exposition Of The Fundamental Principles Of Jurisprudence As The Science Of Right [ 1887 ]

Originally published: Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1887. xxxvi, 265 pp. Published in 1797, The Philosophy of Law [Rechtslehre] stands as one of the most significant late works by the great Prussian philosopher. Though he lived in an atmosphere of political and social repression, it is evident that Kant [1724-1804] was sensitive to the revolutionary spirit that was spreading throughout Europe in the wake of Napoleon's armies. Claiming that man is born with reason and an innate desire for freedom, he argued that the union of these natural gifts could bring about a new sense of order and harmony in future generations. This edition also reprints Kant's later Supplementary Explanations (1797), which was added to the second edition (1798).

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was a German philosopher and scientist from East Prussia, regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of modern Europe and the last major philosopher of the Enlightenment. In 1781, his Critique of Pure Reason was published. Although now uniformly recognized as one of the greatest works in the history of philosophy, this Critique was largely ignored upon its initial publication. Kant developed his moral philosophy in three main works: Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals (1785), The Critique of Practical Reason (1788), and The Metaphysics of Morals (1798). He is known for his theory that there is a single moral obligation, which he called the Categorical Imperative, from which all other moral obligations are generated. He believed that the moral law is a principle of reason itself, and is not based on contingent facts about the world (e. g., what would make us happy). Accordingly, he believed that moral obligation applies to all and only rational agents.

Translator's Preface......Page 2 Contents......Page 15 The Metaphysical Principles of the Science of right as contained in The Metaphysics of Morals......Page 18 Prefatory Explanations......Page 19 General Introduction to the Metaphysic of Morals......Page 22 General Divisions of the Metaphysic of Morals......Page 30 Introduction to the Science of Right......Page 38 General Definitions and Divisions......Page 39 Division of the Science of Right......Page 45 The Science of Right: Part First: Private Right......Page 47 The Science of Right: Part Second: Public Right......Page 97 Supplementary Explanations of the Principles of Right......Page 134 Apologia: Kant's Vindication of His Philosophical Style......Page 147 "Kant's Science of right ... was published in 1796, as the first part of his Metaphysic of morals, the ... sequel and completion of the Foundation for a metaphysic of morals, published in 1785."--Pref. By Immanuel Kant ; Translated From The German By W. Hastie. Originally Published: Edinburgh : T. & T. Clark, 1887. Includes Bibliographical References.