Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals

Immanuel Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals of 1785 is one of the most profound and important works in the history of practical philosophy. In this introduction to the Groundwork, Sally Sedgwick provides a guide to Kant’s text that follows the course of his discussion virtually paragraph by paragraph. Her aim is to convey Kant’s ideas and arguments as clearly and simply as possible, without getting lost in scholarly controversies. Her introductory chapter offers a useful overview of Kant’s general approach to practical philosophy, and she also explores and clarifies some of the main assumptions which Kant relies on in his Groundwork but defends in his Critique of Pure Reason. The book will be a valuable guide for all who are interested in Kant\'s practical philosophy.

• A valuable and highly readable guide to a text which is central to the teaching of ethics • Suitable for those new to the text as well as for more experienced students • Introductory chapters includes a useful overview of Kant’s general approach to practical philosophy

Preface; List of abbreviations; 1. Introduction; 2. Kant’s preface; 3. Section I: Transition from common rational to philosophic moral cognition; 4. Section II: Transition from popular moral philosophy to metaphysics of morals; 5. Section III: Transition from metaphysics of morals to the critique of pure practical reason; References; Index.

‘This is an absolutely excellent guide to Kant’s Groundwork! Although the Groundwork is a formidable text, it is also an essential one for anyone interested in philosophy … Not only is Professor Sedgwick’s guide both lucid and accurate, but it also places the Groundwork in the context of Kant’s other work.’

– James Taylor, The College of New Jersey