Selected Essays on Kant I: Volume 1 : Duties of Freedom

Twelve essays on Kant's political-legal philosophy, focusing on the moral foundations of Kant's political theory, the need for morality in political practice, and specific issues such as the separation of powers and the separation of church and state. For academics, students, and all those interested in fundamental issues in politics.

Paul Guyer, winner of the 2024 International Kant Prize, is one of the world's leading Kant scholars. This volume collects twelve of his essays on Kant's philosophy of Right, his political-legal philosophy, published since 2009. The essays definitely establish the foundation of Kant's philosophy of Right in his moral philosophy, and demonstrate the continuing need for motivation by respect for the moral law on the part of both those in positions of power and ordinary citizens in any government that aspires to the ideal of justice. The volume examines Kant's contribution to specific issues such as the separation of powers in a constitutional democracy and the separation of church and state, and concludes with two essays showing how John Rawls's well-known theory of justice is grounded on Kant's moral philosophy but could have benefited by attention to Kant's own doctrine of Right.