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Loading... Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals: With on a Supposed Right to Lie Because of Philanthropic Concerns (original 1785; edition 1993)by Immanuel Kant
Work InformationGrounding for the Metaphysics of Morals / On a Supposed Right to Lie Because of Philanthropic Concerns by Immanuel Kant (Author) (1785)
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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. No library descriptions found. |
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I’m letting Kant give the short version of the Groundwork with this quote from the book, not as he would have chosen it I reckon, but I think it fits well nevertheless.
The Cambridge edition includes a very useful introduction that guides you ever so gently through the whole shebang – and, believe me, you need a guide, even for a short work like this. There were some oddities in the translation which were cleared up with online access to the original text. Kant’s quirky style of writing is a whole nother thing – a thing in itself so to speak.
As for the read as a whole, suffice to say it was quite a knockout.
There are regular knockouts, and then there are a priori metaphysical knockouts. Reading the Groundwork is somewhat like observing a train-wreck in slo-mo; you can see it coming – only here it’s a bit like recognizing your synapses are firing in vain to figure out how to avoid this thrashing by ectoplasm (or whatever it can be called), for it’s an hopelessly uneven match.
Though you of course eventually come to your senses, and appreciate it simply as a great mental workout. So, I guess that evens it out.
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