Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals/On a Supposed Right to Lie Because of Philanthropic Concerns

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Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals/On a Supposed Right to Lie Because of Philanthropic Concerns

by Immanuel Kant, James W. Ellington (Translator)

3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 · rating details · 811 ratings · 16 reviews

This expanded edition of James Ellington’s preeminent translation includes Ellington’s new translation of Kant’s essay “Of a Supposed Right to Lie Because of Philanthropic Concerns” in which Kant replies to one of the standard objections to his moral theory as presented in the main text: that it requires us to tell the truth even in the face of disastrous consequences.

Paperback, 3rd Edition, 78 pages

Published June 1st 1993 by Hackett

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Jun 23, 2012 Eric Phetteplace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: philosophy

I suspended disbelief & enjoyed this work. Kant does a spectacular job of thoroughly deriving a morality, always working hard to establish a solid theoretical basis & never giving in to exceptions or defaulting to common sense. The book peaks midway through the second section, when the categorical imperative is made more explicit & examples worked through. The third section, while admittedly difficult to follow, did a good job of side-stepping the issue of freedom vs. determinism &...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, read-in-english-translation, 16th-to-18th-century, books-we-own

Everyone seems to complain that the text is dry and hard to follow, but honestly, it's not bad at all. I read it as a freshman, and it was probably the first philosophy that I'd read that dealt so strongly in absolutes. I was impressed by his vehement (and gutsy) assertion that a priori principles must still apply empirically, regardless of the situation's specific details.

It's been years since I've read this, and Kant still stands out in my mind as one of the most powerful philosophers that I'...more Everyone seems to complain that the text is dry and hard to follow, but honestly, it's not bad at all. I read it as a freshman, and it was probably the first philosophy that I'd read that dealt so strongly in absolutes. I was impressed by his vehement (and gutsy) assertion that a priori principles must still apply empirically, regardless of the situation's specific details.

It's been years since I've read this, and Kant still stands out in my mind as one of the most powerful philosophers that I've ever studied. I shall try as best I can to explain why, but memory being what it is, many of the details are fuzzy.

Those familar with Kant's works will not be surprised by the meticulous detail, the unimpeachable logic, and the sound reasoning behind his arguments. He has a way of getting right at the heart of an issue and analyzing the bejabbers out of it, for want of a better expression. One example from this text is Kant's study of motive's effect on morality: he examined different ways of thinking that could be selfish or altruistic, demonstrated how they could coexist within the same mind, and just kept delving deeper and deeper. With Kant, there always seems to be another layer, and even when he concludes that it is impossible to be sure even of one's own motivation (and therefore the extent of one's moral fortitude) he has still provided, if not an answer, the next best thing. Kant gives readers a frame for thinking through these issues; he lays out his philosophy, but then he tests it repeatedly, even brutally, which shows not only the strength of his arguments but also his eagerness to fully understand the ideals he seeks and to apply these same parameters consistently to the many changes and unpredictabilities of daily life.

I kind of admire Kant for not trying to come up with a philosophy that can be changed during specific situations. Instead, he maintained that because of the great variety of circumstance, it was absolutely necessary to have a philosophy that would never change.(less)

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Aug 28, 2012 Chris Byron rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have little to add that my friend, and fellow goodreads reviewer Jesse Lopes, hasn't already stated. The title of the book is Kant's overall objective, i.e., he wants to lay the groundwork for the metaphysics of morals. He is giving the reader a foundational structure, within the confines of our reason, that we can deduce our ethical duty from. Kant is highly suspicious, as a matter of fact, entirely distrusting, of any ethical system that could be deduced from empirical observation/experience...more I have little to add that my friend, and fellow goodreads reviewer Jesse Lopes, hasn't already stated. The title of the book is Kant's overall objective, i.e., he wants to lay the groundwork for the metaphysics of morals. He is giving the reader a foundational structure, within the confines of our reason, that we can deduce our ethical duty from. Kant is highly suspicious, as a matter of fact, entirely distrusting, of any ethical system that could be deduced from empirical observation/experiences. He's convinced experience, and empirical observation are too particular, and infrequently identical, to allow for the deduction of a transcending morality. Whereas reason, something all humans hopefully share, is exactly something we can come together around, and deduce our duty from. If we seek out reason as our guide post, we become bound by the categorical imperative: roughly, act only according to that maxim whereby you could will it to be a universal law at the same time. So, if you think telling a white lie is okay, you're actually acting immorally because then anyone can lie, or tell the truth, and we won't know who is doing what when, ergo, we have reached a contradiction. For most people, this is seems outrageous. But Kant never thought being moral would be easy, as a matter of fact, his system is so onerous, some suggest it leaves the will - which he believes to be free - entirely shackled by a duty that nears impossibility.

Kant's distrust of experience as a guidepost led to much criticism, in the famous axe murderer example. If I see my friend running for his life and he says "I'm going to hide in my house," and an Axe murderer comes by and says "where is your friend," Kant informs us that we are to tell the truth, because again, telling a lie is not something we can universalize as a law. Of course the proper objection, which Kant skirts around, is that we could be universalizing the principle that I shall only tell a lie if, and only if, my friend's life will be saved. But even here Kant doesn't trust that we can ensure the life will be saved, for it could be that the friend decides not to go to his house, and in leading the killer astray, he may actually run into our friend! Essentially what Kant is doing is trying to skirt aside all responsibility of consequences from the individual acting out of pure duty. While we may be able to reason along such a course, I've zero doubt that the overwhelming grief we'd receive upon learning we pointed in the right direction, having told the truth, would leave anyone heartbroken. But there goes those silly emotions, getting in the way again.

The serious criticism though, as Jesse pointed out, is that Kant still vouchsafes reason by appealing to our emotion: "For the pure thought of duty and moral law generally...has by way of reason alone...an influence upon the human heart so much more powerful than all other incentives." I contest the grief we'd feel at the murder of our friend, would trump the influence of reason upon our heart.
(less)

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May 07, 2012 Greg rated it 4 of 5 stars

No one would argue that Kant is easy to read. His thoughts are packed tightly behind meticulously chosen vocabulary. Additionally, to really understand Kant the reader must be versed in the intricacies of his philosophy, or the finer points will be missed. His "Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals" is no different in this respect, but the barriers to entry can be overcome with a little background research, and the reader will find his thought quite provoking and rewarding.

This volume is a sho...more No one would argue that Kant is easy to read. His thoughts are packed tightly behind meticulously chosen vocabulary. Additionally, to really understand Kant the reader must be versed in the intricacies of his philosophy, or the finer points will be missed. His "Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals" is no different in this respect, but the barriers to entry can be overcome with a little background research, and the reader will find his thought quite provoking and rewarding.

This volume is a short introduction to the second Critique of Practical Reason. In his Critique, Kant sets out to logically understand reason, like a good logician, he starts by describing the tools and assumptions that must be used in his construction. The Grounding can be seen to start essentially as his analysis of our own mental abilities and tools, and their dependability in his analysis. The difficulty is extreme - using reason to describe itself for lack of another dependable way. The overall purpose is to understand moral principles, so that people may be grounded in them instead of being incorrectly diverted.

There are many thoughts to take away from this analysis. The introduction synthesizes many of them:

1) "The idea running through all of these formulations is that of autonomy: the moral law is imposed by reason itself and is not imposed externally (heteronomously) as, for example, would be the case if all actions were directed to the attainment of happiness conceived as a state of the subject in which he had no unsatisfied desires but had complete well-being and contentment, or as would be the case if all actions were commanded by the will of God."

2) "If something is right for me to do, then it must be so for everybody else. In formal terms, the first formulation in the Grounding of the categorical imperative states that one should act only on that maxim that can at the same time be willed to become universal law."

3) "According to the formula of universal law, any violation of the formula of the end in itself must be wrong"

4) The principle of autonomy is the sole principle of morals and that this has been shown by merely analyzing the concepts of morality."

He is at times critical of reason itself: "Reason, however, is not competent enough to guide the will safely as regards it objects and the satisfaction of all our needs." This great exemplar of reason is wise enough to understand his limitations.

Kant's argument is dispassionate and abstract. It is this statement that will separate Kant's admirers in their support from Kant's detractors. Both would agree, but both would claim this as a central element in their reaction. (less)

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Jul 09, 2012 Frankie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is my small taste of Kant to determine whether to move forward in his texts. Grounding is a sort of intro to his Metaphysics of Morals, and is complex enough on its own. Three steps or transitions climb in difficulty. By the third I was barely cognizant. Despite the eighteenth century simplicity, filtered through the translator as well, the concepts don't exactly fall into neat rows. It reminds me of a complex math course: if you miss a step you have to start over.

Kant's categorical imperat...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Jeremy Egerer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Worth a read because Kant will make you think... but only because he takes "reason" to its most unreasonable extreme, and forces you to wonder through the entire book whether you're being conned. If this book is true, then Jesus wasn't technically moral, who "for the glory set before Him, endured the cross," since Kant says only dutiful actions with no possible incentives are truly moral.

Lastly, the entire book is about how the conscience operates according to a different set of rules than the n...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Jesse Lopes rated it 5 of 5 stars

What is so very fascinating about this book, and it is an accessible Kantian text I should say (he's very liberal with examples in this one, after all), is that Kant begins by saying that, certainly we have got reason for a reason, and if, as the empiricists claim, we have reason to make us happy, nothing is more unsuited to its purpose in the world! Therefore, reason is with us for a higher purpose. Now, everyone knows Kant says morality is derivable from reason alone, but not everyone realizes...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars

Most of what we think about Kant's ethics can be found in this short, but profound, piece of Philosophy. Kant spells out his fundamental moral concepts of the categorical imperative, the kind of ends and perfect and imperfect duties. This is a concise and accessible read, well worth the time for anyone who wants to understand Kant's moral theory.

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Sep 24, 2008 Leslie rated it 5 of 5 stars

How can you say what you learn from someone who defined our moral culture to the extent that Kant did? I am learning about the formulations of the categorical imperative...

Okay, I need to take a moment to rant here. I don't expect that anyone will read my review or care, but how can "Married to a Stranger" have better overall reviews than this book?!? Something that contributes nothing to the human race, that will not be read after this generation, as opposed to something that contributes profou...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Chandler rated it 3 of 5 stars

Thick as a brick wall in material and hard to read. Tried to use this for closing arguments at a trial in its concepts of morality and ethics, but it was even too dense for that. Made even less sense than it did in Philosophy 101 back in college.

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May 08, 2007 Zac rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: It's pretty hard to say...

It's tragic that this is the most accessible thing Kant wrote to introduce us to his ethics. Tremendous insight locked inside impenetrable text.

If you're going to read this, make sure you have enough light.

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Mar 14, 2012 John Yelverton rated it 2 of 5 stars

I "Kant" tell you just how morally bankrupt this book actually is.

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Oct 21, 2007 Paul rated it 3 of 5 stars

Tough read, very dry.

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Nov 05, 2007 TJ rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: textbooks, own

Phil 381 History of Ethics

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May 03, 2007 Josh rated it 1 of 5 stars

Kant and I have problems.

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Jan 06, 2013 Sharif rated it 3 of 5 stars

so far so good

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About Immanuel Kant

Immanuel Kant was an 18th-century German philosopher from the Prussian city of Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia). He is regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of modern Europe and of the late Enlightenment.

His most important work is The Critique of Pure Reason, a critical investigation of reason itself. It encompasses an attack on traditional metaphysics and epistemology, and highligh...more Immanuel Kant was an 18th-century German philosopher from the Prussian city of Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia). He is regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of modern Europe and of the late Enlightenment.

His most important work is The Critique of Pure Reason, a critical investigation of reason itself. It encompasses an attack on traditional metaphysics and epistemology, and highlights Kant's own contribution to these areas. The other main works of his maturity are The Critique of Practical Reason, which concentrates on ethics, and The Critique of Judgement, which investigates aesthetics and teleology.

Pursuing metaphysics involves asking questions about the ultimate nature of reality. Kant suggested that metaphysics can be reformed through epistemology. He suggested that by understanding the sources and limits of human knowledge we can ask fruitful metaphysical questions. He asked if an object can be known to have certain properties prior to the experience of that object. He concluded that all objects that the mind can think about must conform to its manner of thought. Therefore if the mind can think only in terms of causality – which he concluded that it does – then we can know prior to experiencing them that all objects we experience must either be a cause or an effect. However, it follows from this that it is possible that there are objects of such a nature that the mind cannot think of them, and so the principle of causality, for instance, cannot be applied outside of experience: hence we cannot know, for example, whether the world always existed or if it had a cause. And so the grand questions of speculative metaphysics are off limits, but the sciences are firmly grounded in laws of the mind.

Kant believed himself to be creating a compromise between the empiricists and the rationalists. The empiricists believed that knowledge is acquired through experience alone, but the rationalists maintained that such knowledge is open to Cartesian doubt and that reason alone provides us with knowledge. Kant argues, however, that using reason without applying it to experience will only lead to illusions, while experience will be purely subjective without first being subsumed under pure reason.

Kant’s thought was very influential in Germany during his lifetime, moving philosophy beyond the debate between the rationalists and empiricists. The philosophers Fichte, Schelling, Hegel and Schopenhauer saw themselves as correcting and expanding the Kantian system, thus bringing about various forms of German Idealism. Kant continues to be a major influence on philosophy to this day, influencing both Analytic and Continental philosophy.(less)

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Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (Texts in the History of Philosophy)

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