Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals

Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, also known as Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (originally published in 1785) is the first of Immanuel Kant's mature works on moral philosophy and remains one of the most influential in the field. Kant conceives his investigation as a work of foundational ethics—one that clears the ground for future research by explaining the core concepts and principles of moral theory, and showing that they are normative for rational agents.<br/>Kant purposes to lay bare the fundamental principle of morality and show that it applies to us. Central to the work is the role of what Kant refers to as the categorical imperative, the concept that one must act only according to that precept which he or she would will to become a universal law. He provides a groundbreaking argument that the rightness of an action is determined by the principle that a person chooses to act upon. This stands in stark contrast to the moral sense theories and teleological moral theories that dominated moral philosophy at the time of Kant's career. Contents Preface First Section—Transition from the Common Rational Knowledge of Morality to the Philosophical Second Section—Transition from Popular Moral Philosophy to the Metaphysic of Morals The Autonomy of the Will as the Supreme Principle of Morality Heteronomy of the Will as the Source of all spurious Principles of Morality Classification of all Principles of Morality which can be founded on the Conception of Heteronomy Third Section—Transition from the Metaphysic of Morals to the Critique of Pure Practical Reason The Concept of Freedom is the Key that explains the Autonomy of the Will Freedom must be presupposed as a Property of the Will of all Rational Beings Of the Interest attaching to the Ideas of Morality How is a Categorical Imperative Possible? Of the Extreme Limits of all Practical Philosophy. Concluding Remark