Summary
Christine Korsgaard argues that Kant's moral philosophy, when understood through his theory of value and the doctrine of the "two standpoints," offers a relevant resource for contemporary ethical problems. She aims to present Kant's ethics not as a rigid adherence to duty, but as a system that accounts for love and value, applicable to personal relations, politics, and everyday interactions. This collection of essays interprets Kant's moral philosophy, potentially serving as a commentary on *The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals*.
The book contrasts Kant's ideas with those of historical philosophers like Aristotle, Sidgwick, Moore, and Hume, as well as contemporary thinkers such as Williams, Nagel, and Parfit. By clarifying Kant's theory of value and the "two standpoints," Korsgaard suggests many traditional puzzles surrounding his ethics can be resolved. The essays are intended for those teaching and studying moral theory.
Key concepts
- Kant's theory of value — A key component of Korsgaard's interpretation, central to understanding Kant's moral philosophy and resolving ethical puzzles.
- The "two standpoints" — A widely misunderstood doctrine in Kant's ethics that Korsgaard explicates to illuminate his moral philosophy.
- The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals — This work serves as a reference point, with Part One of Korsgaard's collection functioning as a commentary on it.
From the book
Description: Christine Korsgaard is identified with a small group of philosophers who are intent on producing a version of Kant's moral philosophy that is at once sensitive to its historical roots while revealing its particular relevance to contemporary problems. She rejects the traditional picture of Kant's ethics as a cold vision of the moral life which emphasises duty at the expense of love and value.
Rather, Kant's work is seen as providing a resource for addressing not only the metaphysics of morals, but also for tackling practical questions about personal relations, politics, and everyday human interaction.
This collection of thirteen essays is divided into two parts. Part One offers an exposition and interpretation of the moral philosophy, and could serve as a commentary on The Groundwork on the Metaphysics of Morals. Part Two compares and contrasts Kant's philosophy with other influential moral philosophies, both historical (Aristotle, Sidgwick, Moore, and Hume) and contemporary (Williams, Nagel, and Parfit).