Kant: Political Writings

This work begins with a preface and a general introduction. Its main body falls into two parts—The Metaphysical Elements of the Theory of Right and The Metaphysical Elements of the Theory of Virtue. The extracts included in the present edition are taken only from The Metaphysical Elements of the Theory of Right. They include the most important paragraphs from the introduction to this part of the work, and its second main section, which deals with The Theory of Public Right. In order to place the relevant passages in their proper context, I have provided a brief summary of the other sections preceding The Theory of Public Right.

In the preface to The Metaphysics of Morals, Kant points out that a complete metaphysics of right is impossible because completeness in an account of empirical matters is impossible. He refers only to The Metaphysical Elements of the Theory of Right because the second part, The Metaphysical Elements of the Theory of Virtue, was published at a later date. Kant also states that, in his treatise, he has put into the body of the text those arguments relating to the system of right which were arrived at by a priori reasoning and has relegated those relating to specific empirical cases to the notes. Kant then defends the apparent obscurity of his style by saying that it is impossible to aim at popularity in a work involving a system of criticism of the faculty of reason.

In his general introduction to the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant discusses the fundamental terms and presuppositions of this work, pointing out that science can make progress without explicit reference to a priori laws, but that the case of morality is different. Moral laws are laws only in so far as they have an a priori basis and are necessary. He explains why he distinguishes between legal and moral laws: the former admit of no incentive except that of duty, the latter do not.

A full account of this introduction would be too long to justify inclusion here. Kant proceeds to provide definitions for many of the terms which he uses, thus supplying a brief account of the principles underlying his moral philosophy (cf. my introduction pp. 17-21 for a brief discussion of his moral philosophy).