Kant on Moral Autonomy

Description

The concept of autonomy is one of Kant's central legacies for contemporary moral thought. We often invoke autonomy as both a moral ideal and a human right, especially a right to determine oneself independently of foreign determinants; indeed, to violate a person's autonomy is considered to be a serious moral offence. Yet while contemporary philosophy claims Kant as the originator of its notion of autonomy, Kant's own conception of the term seems to differ in important respects from our present-day interpretation. Kant on Moral Autonomy brings together a distinguished group of scholars who explore the following questions: what is Kant's conception of autonomy? What is its history and its influence on contemporary conceptions? And what is its moral significance? Their essays will be of interest both to scholars and students working on Kantian moral philosophy and to anyone interested in the subject of autonomy.

Oliver Sensen is Associate Professor in Philosophy at Tulane University. He is the author of Kant on Human Dignity (2011) and co-editor of Kant's Tugendlehre (2012).

'This rich collection of essays, many inspired by or referencing the work of Onora O'Neill, offers various perspectives on autonomy in Kant with some effort to draw relations to other issues in moral theory.' Frederick Rauscher, Journal of the History of Philosophy