Description
Immanuel Kant's final publication in ethics was The Doctrine of Virtue, Part II of the 1797 The Metaphysics of Morals. This text presents Kant's normative ethical theory. This guide is meant to be read alongside Kant's text, combining accessible explanations and novel interpretations of this difficult text. It is the first book in English devoted to The Doctrine of Virtue, one of Kant's most significant works.Timmons divides the guide into five parts. Part I reviews Kant's life, the history and significance of The Doctrine of Virtue, and situates Kant's ethics within his general metaphysical and epistemological views. Part II is devoted to the General Introduction to The Metaphysics of Morals, which is essential for understanding Kant's ethics. Part III and Part IV turn to The Doctrine of Virtue itself, exploring Kant's defense of a system of duties and corresponding virtues. Part V examines Kant's conception of moral education, the practice of virtue, and the conclusion to the book where Kant explains why the discipline of ethics does not include religion as a doctrine of duties to God. Timmons concludes the book highlighting key aspects of The Doctrine of Virtue, situating Kant's ethical theory in relation to other normative ethical theories. This guide is a vital resource for both students and scholars interested in ethics and the history of philosophy.
Table of Contents
Preface and acknowledgementsAbbreviations for Kant's works and note on translationsPart I: Background1. Life and Work2. Philosophical BackgroundPart II: General Introduction to the Metaphysics of Morals3. On the Idea of and Necessity for a Metaphysics of Morals4. Mental Faculties, the Moral Law, and Human Motivation5. Preliminary Concepts and Division of the Metaphysics of MoralsPart III: Introduction to the Doctrine of Virtue6. The Doctrine of Virtue as a Doctrine of Ends7. General Ends that are Also Duties8. Radical Evil and the Nature of Virtue9. The Science of EthicsPart IV: The Doctrine of Elements10. Perfect Duties to Oneself as an Animal Being11. Perfect Duties to Oneself Merely as a Moral Being12. Imperfect Duties to Oneself13. Duties of Love to Other Human Beings14. The Vices of Hatred and of Disrespect15. FriendshipPart V: The Doctrine of Methods of Ethics and Conclusion16. Moral Education and PracticeConcluding Reflections on Kant's Doctrine of VirtueGuide to TerminologyBibliographyIndex
