Immanuel Kant’s Moral Theory

This book, sure to become a standard reference work, is a comprehensive, lucid, and systematic commentary on Kant’s practical (or moral) philosophy. Kant is arguably the most important moral philosopher of the modern period; yet, prior to this area in a single volume. Using as nontechnical a language as possible, Professor Sullivan offers a detailed, authoritative account of Kant’s moral philosophy - including his ethical theory, his philosophy of history, his political philosophy, his philosophy of religion, and his philosophy of education - and demonstrates the historical, Kantian origins of such important notions as ‘autonomy’, ‘respect for persons’, ‘rights’, and ‘duties’. An invaluable resource, this book will be extremely useful to advanced undergraduates, graduates, and professional philosophers alike.

1. Introduction; 2. The context for Kant’s moral philosophy; Part I. The Nature of Morality: 3. The nature of human action; 4. Prudence: taking care of our own interests; 5. Morality: living autonomously; 6. Morally obligatory ends; 7. The defense of morality; 8. The primacy of morality; Part II. The Moral Norm for Persons: 9. Moral character: part I; 10. Moral character: part II; Part III. The Norm for Moral Judgment: 11. The categorical imperative; 12. The formula of autonomy or of universal law: part I; 13. The formula of autonomy or of universal law: part II; 14. The formula of respect for the dignity of persons; 15. The formula of legislation for a moral community; Part IV. Kant on History, Politics, and Religion: 16. Autonomy and the state; 17. Civil justice and republicanism; 18. Kant’s philosophy of religion; Appendixes: 1. Kant’s two-viewpoints doctrine; 2. Kant’s philosophy of moral education.

‘Sullivan writes in the light of Kant’s entire writings on action, reason and morality and includes accounts of the philosophy of religion, of history and of politics. He does so in a way that is clear and definite with a sequence and balance of topics that seems to me very good … there is no other book in English that offers such a comprehensive, broadly accurate yet accessible treatment.’

– Onora O‘Neill, University of Essex