The Sole Fact of Pure Reason: Kants Quasi-Ontological Argument for the Categorical Imperative (Kantstudien-Ergnzungshefte, 210)

This book presents a comprehensive analysis of Kant’s justification of the categorical imperative. The book contests the standard interpretation of Kant’s views by arguing that he never abandoned his view about this as expressed in his __Groundwork__. It is distinctive in the way in which it places Kant’s argument in the context of his transcendental philosophy as a whole, which is essential to understand it as an argument from within human agential self-understanding. The book reviews that existing literature, then presents a logical construction of Kant’s argument, which it defends by examining what Kant has to say about synthetic a priori practical propositions in the context of his transcendental philosophy as a whole, and by a detailed examination of how he presents his argument in the __Second Critique__ and the __Groundwork__. Particular attention is given to the views of two scholars who share many of the views expressed in this book: Klaus Steigleder and Michael Wolff. Special attention is also given to the views of Owen Ware, who, while sharing many of our arguments has a very different overall view. The concluding chapter provides a statement about the validity of Kant’s argument. Preface Contents Chapter One. Introduction – Setting the Scene Chapter Two. Kant’s Argument for the Categorical Imperative Constructed Chapter Three. A Priori Synthetic Practical Propositions as Strict Requirements of Human Agential Self-Understanding Chapter Four. Kant’s Justification in the Context of His Critical Philosophy as a Whole Chapter Five. The Moral Law as the Sole Fact of Pure Reason in CPrR Chapter Six. The Moral Law as the Sole Fact of Pure Reason in GMM Chapter Seven. Klaus Steigleder and Michael Wolff Chapter Eight. Owen Ware Chapter Nine. How Valid is Kant’s Argument? Bibliography Subject Index Persons Index In der Reihe werden herausragende monographische Untersuchungen und Sammelbände zu allen Aspekten der Philosophie Kants veröffentlicht, ebenso zum systematischen Verhältnis seiner Philosophie zu anderen philosophischen Ansätzen in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Veröffentlicht werden Studien, die einen innovativen Charakter haben und ausdrückliche Desiderate der Forschung erfüllen. Die Publikationen repräsentieren damit den aktuellsten Stand der Forschung.