Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals: An Introduction

Description

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.

Sally Sedgwick is Professor of Philosophy and Affiliated Professor of Germanic Studies, University of Illinois. She is editor of The Reception of Kant's Critical Philosophy: Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel (2000).

'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