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The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics
Immanuel Kant · translated by Thomas Kingsmill Abbott
Kant's introduction to his doctrine of virtue, explaining what a duty of virtue is and how ethics differs from law.
The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics sets out the basic concepts of Kant's theory of virtue: ends that are also duties, one's own perfection and the happiness of others, and the difference between ethical and legal obligation.
This edition is the English translation by Thomas Kingsmill Abbott.
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The notion of duty is in itself already the notion of a constraint of the free elective will by the law; whether this constraint be an external one or be self-constraint. The moral imperative, by its categorical (the unconditional ought) announces this constraint, which therefore does not apply to all rational beings (for there may also be holy beings), but applies to men as rational physical beings who are unholy enough to be seduced by pleasure to the transgression of the moral law, although they themselves recognize its authority; and when they do obey it, to obey it unwillingly (with resistance of their inclination); and it is in this that the constraint properly consists. * Now, as man is a free (moral) being, the notion of duty can contain only self-constraint (by the idea of the law itself), when we look to the internal determination of the will (the spring), for thus only is it possible to combine that constraint (even if it were external) with the freedom of the elective will. The notion of duty then must be an ethical one.
The impulses of nature, then, contain hindrances to the fulfilment of duty in the mind of man, and resisting forces, some of them powerful; and he must judge himself able to combat these and to conquer them by means of reason, not in the future, but in the present, simultaneously with the thought; he must judge that he can do what the law unconditionally commands that he ought.
Contents
- 01Preface
- 02Introduction to the Metaphysical Elements of Ethics
- 03I. Exposition of the Conception of Ethics
- 04II. Exposition of the Notion of an End which is also a Duty
- 05Remark
- 06III. Of the Reason for conceiving an End which is also a Duty
- 07IV. What are the Ends which are also Duties?
- 08V. Explanation of these two Notions
- 09A. Our Own Perfection
- 10B. Happiness of Others
- 11VI. Ethics does not supply Laws for Actions (which is done by Jurisprudence), but only for the Maxims of Action
- 12VII. Ethical Duties are of indeterminate, Juridical Duties of strict, Obligation
- 13VIII. Exposition of the Duties of Virtue as Intermediate Duties
- 14(1) Our Own Perfection as an end which is also a duty
- 15(2) Happiness of Others as an end which is also a duty
- 16IX. What is a Duty of Virtue?
- 17X. The Supreme Principle of Jurisprudence was Analytical; that of Ethics is Synthetical
- 18XI. According to the preceding Principles, the Scheme of Duties of Virtue may be thus exhibited
- 19XII. Preliminary Notions of the Susceptibility of the Mind for Notions of Duty generally
- 20A. The Moral Feeling
- 21B. Of Conscience
- 22C. Of Love to Men
- 23D. Of Respect
- 24XIII. General Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals in the treatment of Pure Ethics
- 25XIV. Of Virtue in General
- 26XV. Of the Principle on which Ethics is separated from Jurisprudence
- 27Remarks
- 28Of the Doctrine of Virtue on the Principle Of Internal Freedom.
- 29XVI. Virtue requires, first of all, Command over Oneself
- 30XVII. Virtue necessarily presupposes Apathy (considered as Strength)
- 31Remark
- 32On Conscience
- 33The End
About this edition
- Author
- Immanuel Kant
- Translator
- Thomas Kingsmill Abbott
- Era
- Early modern (c. 1500–1800)
- Reading level
- Advanced: for close, demanding reading
- Formats
- EPUB, PDF
- Length
- 47 pages
- This edition
- Modern Philosophers