This edition had all images removed.

Title: The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics

Note: Reading ease score: 44.0 (College-level). Difficult to read.

Credits: Etext produced by Matthew Stapleton.
HTML file produced by David Widger

Summary: "The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics" by Immanuel Kant is a philosophical treatise written in the late 18th century. This work falls under the category of ethical philosophy and delves into the intricate principles of moral duty and virtue. Through a systematic exploration, Kant seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for understanding ethical obligations that arise from pure reason, independent of subjective feelings or external conditions. In the text, Kant argues that genuine moral action stem from the awareness of duty guided by rational principles, rather than mere emotional inclinations. He emphasizes the importance of the "categorical imperative," a central ethical tenet that dictates one must act according to maxims that can be universally applied. This principle elevates ethical considerations above the pursuit of happiness, urging individuals to cultivate their moral capacities while promoting the welfare of others. Kant distinguishes between duties of virtue—such as self-perfection and the well-being of others—and legal duties, framing ethics as a domain of self-constraint and rational will, emphasizing that moral freedom lies in the ability to act according to duty rather than inclination. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Author: Kant, Immanuel, 1724-1804

Translator: Abbott, Thomas Kingsmill, 1829-1913

EBook No.: 5684

Published: May 1, 2004

Downloads: 217

Language: English

Subject: Ethics

Subject: Philosophy, German

LoCC: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion

Category: Text

Rights: Public domain in the USA.

This edition has images.

Title: The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics

Note: Reading ease score: 44.0 (College-level). Difficult to read.

Credits: Etext produced by Matthew Stapleton.
HTML file produced by David Widger

Summary: "The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics" by Immanuel Kant is a philosophical treatise written in the late 18th century. This work falls under the category of ethical philosophy and delves into the intricate principles of moral duty and virtue. Through a systematic exploration, Kant seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for understanding ethical obligations that arise from pure reason, independent of subjective feelings or external conditions. In the text, Kant argues that genuine moral action stem from the awareness of duty guided by rational principles, rather than mere emotional inclinations. He emphasizes the importance of the "categorical imperative," a central ethical tenet that dictates one must act according to maxims that can be universally applied. This principle elevates ethical considerations above the pursuit of happiness, urging individuals to cultivate their moral capacities while promoting the welfare of others. Kant distinguishes between duties of virtue—such as self-perfection and the well-being of others—and legal duties, framing ethics as a domain of self-constraint and rational will, emphasizing that moral freedom lies in the ability to act according to duty rather than inclination. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Author: Kant, Immanuel, 1724-1804

Translator: Abbott, Thomas Kingsmill, 1829-1913

EBook No.: 5684

Published: May 1, 2004

Downloads: 217

Language: English

Subject: Ethics

Subject: Philosophy, German

LoCC: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion

Category: Text

Rights: Public domain in the USA.