Book Description
Immanuel Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals ranks alongside Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics as one of the most profound and influential works in moral philosophy ever written. In Kant's own words its aim is to search for and establish the supreme principle of morality, the categorical imperative. This edition presents the acclaimed translation of the text by Mary Gregor, together with an introduction by Christine M. Korsgaard that examines and explains Kant's argument.
Customer Reviews:
A Cornerstone in Thinking about Ethics.......2007-07-05
There were only 9 reviews on this book . . . what can one say. . . either something brings you to this book or it does not. . . if you are reading these reviews, then buy it.
This book is one of the most important and influential works on ethics. It is dense, not an easy read, the structure is loose and troublesome at times, but it is groundbreaking and brilliant.
There are many internet resources to guide you along the reading,. so do not be intimidated. Much of future work will rest on the contributions by Kant.
great introduction, expensive version.......2006-02-25
This version of the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals provides a clear and concise introduction. You will find it useful to understand how Kant's moral philosophy fits within his general philosophy and to get acquainted with some of the debates around his work. Although this book is rather expensive for what it is, it is useful and worth buying if you are really interested in this topic.
Cornerstone of Modern Ethical Thinking.......2005-10-31
'Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals' by Immanuel Kant is easily the most important work devoted exclusively to thinking about morality in the history of Philosophy, especially considering it's size.
The cornerstone of the work, and the end result of Kant's analysis is the categorical imperative which says that a moral law are only those for which you can state should be true of all people.
In one fell swoop, Kant marginalizes all thinking about relativism in morality and at the same time distinguishes moral from religious thinking.
If you pair this up with St. Paul's statements in his letter to the Romans (3:19-28) which states strongly that adherance to the law has virtually nothing to do with salvation, it should make things pretty clear to all concerned.
Unfortunately, things are rarely that simple. As important as Kant's conclusion is, it is necessary but not sufficient for a complete analysis of morality.
One excuse may be that this work is really Kant's version of 'Cliff Notes' to his moral argument. His full presentation comes in the 'Critique of Practical Reason', which, however, is not often read.
Note that contrary to another review of this edition, the translator and commentator is the noted Kant scholar of 70 years ago, H. J. Paton.
To people who are not used to reading philosophy, I will not hide the fact that Kant is tough going. He may not be quite as tough as Hegel, the Existentialists, or the ancient Greeks, but he is definitely harder to understand than any modern nonfiction book I can think of.
The biggest argument against the 'Groundwork' and the categorical imperative is usually the fact that it does not rule out trivial rules, such as 'you must always eat a starch at least once a day'. This rule is physically possible for anyone living anywhere in the world, yet it is certainly not a moral law. It is not even a very good dietary law, but that's neither here nor there. A second argument is that Kant's argument seems a bit circular, when he says that the only thing which unqualifiedly good is a good will.
For anyone who has been vexed by moral questions, an honest reading of this work will at the very least give you hope that with the right amount of thought, one can make sense of moral issues.
A truly great book.
It is Imperative to read this..........2005-10-07
As translator H.J. Paton states in his introduction, 'Kant's "Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals" is one of the small books which are truly great' despite the unapproachability of the title. Many rank this book alongside Aristotle's 'Ethics' and Plato's 'Republic'. Its main topic is the supremacy of morals and moral action, and Paton gives a section by section analysis of Kant's book. The purpose of this work is not to work out all of the implications and difficulties with the a priori part of ethics, but rather to set a foundation of the supreme principle of morality.
The centerpiece of the Groundwork is Kant's most famous proposition, the Categorical Imperative. While this is often equated with the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you), the Categorical Imperative argues for a more universal set of moral action - for example, if one does not mind being lied to, then lying does not become a problem, according to the Golden Rule, but for Kant, this would be unacceptable as it is a violation of the rational principles of what morals are.
Kant proceeds to look at issues of law, duty, free will and the good will, and autonomy of action. Kant argues strongly for the need for philosophy to guard against whim, taste and personal desire from becoming normative agents in the way we construct the moral universe. He argue for objective principles to govern the will, and categorises these as either hypothetical or categorical. 'All imperatives command either hypothetically or categorically. Hypothetical imperatives declare a possible action to be practically necessary as a means to the attainment of something else that one wills (or that one may will). A categorical imperative would be one which represented an action as objectively necessary in itself apart from its relation to a further end.'
Kant goes from this discussion to the formulation of universal law and the way in which rational agents should formulate and view this kind of law. The final section of this work introduces ideas that will be more fully developed in Kant's 'Critique of Practical Reason', the second of his three-volume Critiques. He also covers some of the arguments from 'Critique of Pure Reason', but not very fully; as Paton states in his analysis, 'Kant cannot assume the elaborate arguments of the "Critique of Pure Reason" to be familiar to his readers nor can he attempt to repeat these elaborate arguments in a short treatise on ethics.' The finite, rational person must regard himself or herself both as a member of the world of experience/perception and also as a member of the world of ideas/rationality. This is the essence of the Empiricist/Rationalist split that Kant synthesises together in the first Critique.
This is not easy going - the original 'Groundwork' had 128 pages, contained here in less than 100 (allowing for type-face differences as well as translation). Paton's version has 40 pages of analysis, endnotes, an index, and a statement about the translation - it is the 40 pages of analysis, keyed to section-by-section sequence, that makes this a very useful edition. This is perhaps the best first text of Kant to read to get a sense of his style, thought, and the foundation of what has become known as his most important principle.
Moral Philosophy.......2005-07-29
Immanuel Kant is truly one of the most influential moral philosophers in history; and with this book, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, he positioned himself far further.
In this book you will find things to be deeply contemplated, about "good will", the moral value of conduct and its metaphysical aspects.
This translation of the Kant's original Grundlegung von Metaphysik der Sitten to English is quiet easy to understand, so it is relatively an easy-reading book.
Book Description
In this classic text, Kant sets out to articulate and defend the Categorical Imperative - the fundamental principle that underlies moral reasoning - and to lay the foundation for a comprehensive account of justice and human virtues. This new edition and translation of Kant's work is designed especially for students. An extensive and comprehensive introduction explains the central concepts of Groundwork and looks at Kant's main lines of argument. Detailed notes aim to clarify Kant's thoughts and to correct some common misunderstandings of his doctrines.
Customer Reviews:
I recommend the Cambridge Edition.......2005-06-30
I just finished reading and comparing the introduction of this version of the text with the version published by Cambridge University Press. In the latter edition, I found the introduction to be less in the way of circumlocution, yet exceedingly lucid and pithy. Dr. Korsgaard is a pre-eminent scholar in Kantian Ethics, and her introduction alone is what renders the Cambridge edition worthy. The Oxford introduction, while insightful and generally helpful for the layperson, all to often digressed into different interpretations, none of which were too heavily detailed in their illustration. The Cambridge version is concise, as it contains all the information that is needed. It provided a clear map as to how different parts of Kant's conception connected , and thus engendered a synchronic understanding of the overall text.
Kant's Groundwork.......2003-04-29
Note: The description included in the Amazon.com advertisement for the Hill-Zweig edition is incorrect. Their description is of a different edition, edited by Allen Wood.
Average customer rating:
|
Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals
Manufacturer: Walter de Gruyter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Ethics & Morality
| Philosophy
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Philosophy
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
History & Surveys
| Philosophy
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Metaphysics
| Philosophy
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 3110177072 |
Book Description
Kant's Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals from 1785 is one of the most important and influential texts in the whole history of philosophy. Its central purpose is to develop the categorical imperative. The present collected volume contains papers on central theoretical aspects.
Key Features:
- Contributions from leading international authorities in Kant research - A reflection of the current state of research together with new aspects
Book Description
The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals is one of the most important works of moral philosophy ever written, and Kant's most widely read work. It attempts to demonstrate that morality has its foundation in reason and that our wills are free from both natural necessity and the power of desire. It is here that Kant sets out his famous and controversial "categorical imperative", which forms the basis of his moral theory.
This book is an essential guide to the Groundwork and the many important and profound claims that Kant raises. The book combines an invaluable introduction to the work offering an exploration of these arguments and setting them in the context of Kant's thinking, along with the complete H. J. Paton translation of the work, and a selection of six of the best contemporary commentaries.
Book Description
Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals is one of the most important works in modern moral philosophy. This collection of essays, the first of its kind in nearly thirty years, introduces the reader to some of the most important studies of the book from the past two decades, arranged in the form of a collective commentary. Visit our website for sample chapters!
Book Description
Few books have had as great an impact on intellectual history as Kant's The Moral Law. In its short compass one of the greatest minds in the history of philosophy attempts to identify the fundamental principle 'morality' that governs human action. In strikingly fresh, engaging and idiosyncratic prose Kant carries his readers with him as he seeks 'the supreme principle of morality'. Supported by a clear introduction and detailed summary of the argument, this is not only an essential text for students but also the perfect introduction for any reader who wishes to encounter at first hand the mind of one of the finest and most influential thinkers of all time.
Customer Reviews:
A good read.......2002-04-17
The goal of this relatively brief treatise is to "seek out and establish the supreme principle of morality." As a means to addressing this goal, he investigates human will in relation to reason.He comes to understand the autonomy of the will and the freedom of man as a rational being: reason, will, and most importantly exist as ends in themselves. As ethical or dutiful action that is done with no other end but itself in men, the only principle that is free of self-interested inclinations is the Categorical Imperative - "Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law" (if a man lies to gain something, he must expect that it be alright for all other men to lie in the same). Thus, each maxim a man makes for himself, if rationally justified, is a law to which all men ought to adhere. The man submits himself to the law and simultaneously is the lawgiver. Kant calls this sum of men formulating and submitting to universal codes of behavior the Kingdom of Ends. As an extension of this, he finds that the soul and human will is autonomous, as it rules itself.
It would be strange of me to call a text by Kant an easy read, but this was surprisingly readable, due to the adept translation by H.J. Patton. Patton manages to detangle the long sentences with myriad pronouns referring to a single hidden noun and maintains what he calls Kant's "suppressed intellectual excitement, his moral earnestness, his pleasure in words, anmd even , it may be, something of his peculiar brand of huour, which is so dry that it might have come directly out of Scotland itself." He also includes an analysis of kant's argument and some notes, which are relatively basic but useful. Overall this is a wonderful presentation of a critical work.
Average customer rating:
|
Friends from the Forest
Joy Adamson
Manufacturer: Wm Collins & Sons & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Mammals
| Animals
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Mammals
| Zoology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Ornithology
| Zoology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Birdwatching
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0002624583 |
Book Description
Long ago a young girl was born. Her early years were stable with loving parents, but then tragedy struck. Her parents were lost to her and her whole world was turned upside-down. She was then entrusted to a woman who had no use for her. The only comfort she had was her visits with the birds and animals of the forest. These visits would lead her to her destiny. The Great CreatorÂ's plan for harmony and unity between mankind and the other creatures that shared the earth was in danger. Anna was to heal the wounds between these two entities. This would be done by showing how alike the behaviors were between the two. By showing these similarities, the hope was that a kinship would be formed, a bond between all living things, an appreciation for the gift of life and all its diversities. Anna was destined to become a healer, and so it began.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by Thomson Gale on March 18, 2006. The length of the article is 523 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Bad choice for Interior.(Editorials)(Kempthorne no friend of forests or wildlife)(Editorial)
Publication:
The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: March 18, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: A12
Article Type: Editorial
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Wood & Wood Products, published by Vance Publishing Corp. on September 1, 1996. The length of the article is 892 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
From the supplier: Boxwood is popular among woodcarvers due to its ability to take fine detail. It is also considered ideal for making molds because it can take intricate carvings and retain details. It is also the best wood for musical instruments, particularly wind, owing to its soft resonant tone. Commonly known as the box, it was popular as a landscape tree in Biblical times. It grows in the UK, Europe, North Africa and Asia. Among its excellent properties are its crushing strength, resistance to shock loads and steam bending features.
Citation Details
Title: Boxwood: the early engraver's best friend.(Wood of the Month)
Author: Jo-Ann Kaiser
Publication:
Wood & Wood Products (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 1996
Publisher: Vance Publishing Corp.
Volume: v101
Issue: n10
Page: p46(1)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Forest Products Journal, published by Thomson Gale on January 1, 2007. The length of the article is 6723 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Estimating local modulus of elasticity in a beam from bending measurements: an overview.
Author: Friend K. Bechtel
Publication:
Forest Products Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 57
Issue: 1-2
Page: 118(9)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
|
Friends of the forest.(short story): An article from: Child Life
Kami Propes
Manufacturer: Benjamin Franklin Literary & Medical Society, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
| Baby-3
| Ages 4-8
| Ages 9-12
| Animals
| Arts & Music
| Books on Cassette
| Books on CD
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Computers
| Educational
| History & Historical Fiction
| Issues
| Literature
| Obsessions
| People & Places
| Popular Characters
| Reference & Nonfiction
| Religions
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Series
| Sports & Activities
| Audiobooks
Children's Books
| Subjects
| e-Docs
| Formats
| Books
ASIN: B00093N97O
Release Date: 2005-07-28 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Child Life, published by Benjamin Franklin Literary & Medical Society, Inc. on September 1, 1995. The length of the article is 677 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Friends of the forest.(short story)
Author: Kami Propes
Publication:
Child Life (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 1995
Publisher: Benjamin Franklin Literary & Medical Society, Inc.
Volume: v74
Issue: n6
Page: p12(2)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Books:
- Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy
- Nations and Nationalism since 1780: Programme, Myth, Reality (Canto)
- Nixon and Mao: The Week That Changed the World
- On Liberty and Other Essays (Oxford World's Classics)
- On the Move
- Outlaws of America: The Weather Underground And the Politics of Solidarity
- Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid
- Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms and Performance in Thirty-Six Countries
- Phantom: Chainfire Trilogy, Part 2 (Sword of Truth, Book 10)
- Plan of Attack
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Spiral Dynamics: Mastering Values, Leadership and Change
- Making Polymer Clay Beads: Step-by-Step Techniques for Creating Beautiful Ornamental Beads
- Effective Group Facilitation in Education: How to Energize Meetings and Manage Difficult Groups
- Field and Laboratory Methods for General Ecology
- Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid
- In Green's Jungles: The Second Volume of 'The Book of the Short Sun'
- Inside Passage: Living With Killer Whales, Bald Eagles, and Kwakiutl Indians
- Jin Sato's LEGO MINDSTORMS: The Master's Technique
- Careers in Accounting, 4th Ed.
- County Business Patterns Hawaii 1999
Utilitarianism
Nicomachean Ethics
On the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Homo
Kant: Critique of Practical Reason (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy)
Critique of Pure Reason (Great Books in Philosophy)
