Metaphysische Anfangsgrunde der Tungendlehre

Kant, Immanuel

Verlag: Friedrich Nicolovius, 1797

Beschreibung

In good condition. Nice original boards with typical scuffing, rubbing along edges and corners. Slightly soiled along surface with chipping along extremes. Spine slightly darkened. Signature of Cornelius Kruse on front end page. Text block lightly toned with minimal foxing. Free of known marginalia. Binding tight and intact. Please see photos. In this small book, Kant places particular emphasis on treating humanity as an end in itself and makes significant distinctions between Rights (considered in the first part) and Virtue. He now explains that "virtue" is "the capacity and considered resolve to withstand a strong but unjust opponent.with respect to what opposes the moral dis-position within us". The "opponent" here is, of course, our own inclination to pursue happiness by fulfilling personal pleasures. What ultimately distinguishes virtue from rights is that only virtue can lead us to adopt a moral end (i.e., to make a free rational choice, in conformity with duty): the coercion made possible through the Right may constrain me "to perform actions that are directed as a means to an end, but I can never be constrained by others to have an end; only I myself can make something my end." Rights, therefore, relate to a "narrow" form of obligation focusing on particular actions, whereas virtue relates to "wide obligation" because the moral law "can prescribe only the maxim of actions, not the actions themselves". One of the last works published in his lifetime, this is a typical Kantian tour de force and a defense of his entire life's work. Owned by Cornelius Kruse (1893-1978), a philosophy professor at Wesleyan University. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers RAREE1797DOPZ

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Metaphysische Anfangsgrunde der Tungendlehre

Verlag: Friedrich Nicolovius

Erscheinungsdatum: 1797

Einband: Hardcover

Zustand: Good

Zustand des Schutzumschlags: No Jacket