The Moral Law: Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysic of MoralsKant'sMoral Law: Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Moralsranks with Plato'sRepublicand Aristotle'sEthicsas one of the most important works of moral philosophy ever written. InMoral Law,Kant argues that a human action is only morally good if it is done from a sense of duty, and that a duty is a formal principle based not on self-interest or from a consideration of what results might follow. From this he derived his famous and controversial maxim, the categorical imperative: "Act as if the maxim of your action were to become by your will a universal law of nature." H. J. Paton's translation remains the standard in English for this work. It retains all of Kant's liveliness of mind, suppressed intellectual excitement, moral earnestness, and pleasure in words. The commentary and detailed analysis that Paton provides is an invaluable and necessary guide for the student and general reader. |
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accordance action already appearances apply argument autonomy become belonging bound bring called categorical imperative causality cause Chapter command completely conceive concept concerned condition consequently consider contains contradiction critique derived desires determined duty effect empirical example experience fact feeling follows Formula freedom further give given ground happiness Hence hold human Idea immediate inclination intelligible world interest judgement Kant Kant’s kind kingdom of ends knowledge latter law of nature least limit maxim means merely metaphysic of morals moral law motive namely necessarily necessary necessity never object ordinary ourselves Pages particular perfect person philosophy possible practical reason precisely present principle principle of morality priori proposition pure question rational agent regard relation require respect reverence seek sense sensible world solely supposed synthetic things unconditioned understanding universal law valid virtue whole worth