Naturalism and Realism in Kant's Ethics

Frederick Rauscher argues that Kant is a moral idealist who believes that ethics does not require metaphysical commitments beyond nature. He demonstrates how non-natural claims such as God, free choice, and value are heuristic and reflect the ordering of nature through practical reason. The book explores Kant's ethical system, including the categorical imperative and freedom and value, and shows how his focus on human moral agency explains morality as a part of nature.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2018
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

In this comprehensive assessment of Kant's metaethics, Frederick Rauscher shows that Kant is a moral idealist rather than a moral realist and argues that Kant's ethics does not require metaphysical commitments that go beyond nature. Rauscher frames the argument in the context of Kant's non-naturalistic philosophical method and the character of practical reason as action-oriented. Reason operates entirely within nature, and apparently non-natural claims - God, free choice, and value - are shown to be heuristic and to reflect reason's ordering of nature. The book shows how Kant hesitates between a transcendental moral idealism with an empirical moral realism and a complete moral idealism. Examining every aspect of Kant's ethics, from the categorical imperative to freedom and value, this volume argues that Kant's focus on human moral agency explains morality as a part of nature. It will appeal to academic researchers and advanced students of Kant, German idealism and intellectual history.

Weight: 424g
Dimension: 155 x 228 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781107460829