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Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals

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Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals

By: Immanuel Kant, Thomas Kingsmill Abbott - translator
Narrated by: John Lee
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About this listen

Immanuel Kant's Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals, first published in 1785, lays out Kant's essential philosophy and defines the concepts and arguments that would shape his later work.

Central to Kant's doctrine is the categorical imperative, which he defines as a mandate that human actions should always conform to a universal, unchanging standard of rational morality. Directly opposed to utilitarian philosophy, Kant's theories have been broadly influential since their publication and stand as a seminal contribution to ethical thought.

Although Kant expanded upon the ideas defined here in his later work, including the Critique of Pure Reason and the Metaphysics of Morals, it is in his Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals that they are communicated in their most clear, concise form. This edition is the translation by Thomas Kingsmill Abbott.

Public Domain (P)2011 Tantor Europe France Philosophy Metaphysical Morality Classics Metaphysics Morals

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I first read this more than thirty years ago whilst on a first year undergraduate course which included a module on European Philosophy - along with Aristotle, Kant was the thinker that most attracted me once I’d first experienced his work. This is a great introduction or primer to Immanuel Kant and includes the basis of all his works and the cornerstone on which his thinking was built. Stripping away to the first considerations of moral and ethical contemplation and then rebuilding one step at a time. Kant goes one step back from Socrates and takes two steps forward towards Marx and the 20th Century thinkers.
It needs a little careful work, but it is in total a very accessible and rewarding read - as well as personally enjoyable in stepping back in my reading history to a time when lots and lots of ideas were completely new and really exciting - a feeling that, thankfully, I’ve never lost.

Imperative reading

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The most crucial work in Kant's moral philosophy (Critiques of Pure and Practical Reason fall under Epistemology), within this volume is Kant's Categorical Imperative, namely to act if you will it to become a Universal Law.
The book begins with an epistemological exploration of what constitutes morality, which can be lost on the listener, but really takes off when Kant examines actions that cannot be Universal Laws, such as fraudulent borrowing or suicide.
This may sound like common sense, but in our day and age where many dispute morality or even responsibility, particularly left-wing progressive thinking, this book serves as a secular case that there can be absolute right and absolute wrong. A much-needed work in our day and age.
The narration by John Lee is excellent, he is quick, sharp and to the point and I cannot conceive of a better voice for conveying Kant's philosophical message.
An absolutely essential philosophical text.

Crucial elements of Kantian Philosophy

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