Kant And Freedom Essay, Research Paper
Immanuel Kant was a man before his time. His philosophies, as outlined in
Perpetual Peace, paved the way for modern political relations. Unbeknownst
to his day and age, his insights were a revelation. They were seeds planted
and left unsewn for 120 years. As a first and second image theorist, Kant
mixes his liberal and realist views to paint a picture of “perpetual peace.” His
essay outlines the actions that nations should take to achieve this lofty
objective. Through his layout of behavioral and philosophical ideologies, he
believes nations can truly live synchronically. The first section of Kant’s essay
contains articles that specifically state the actions that nations should take to
enable them to establish a world peace. These six articles must become the
law of a nation endeavoring for peace. The first article applies to treaties of
peace. In the first article he explains that states entering into peace treaties
must resolve all problems that lead them to war. All parties must make
known their issues and work to rectify them. Thus, in the future, there will be
no circumstance that will lead them to war again amongst each other. The
second of these laws communicates the need for all independent nations to be
free from the seizure of another state. The next article is in complete
opposition to the realist theory. Kant explains that all nations need to
gradually dispense of their armed forces. He believes that armies held by
nations increase the tension of their rivals. This makes them increase the size
of their military. Here, Kant indirectly addresses the realist Prisoner’s
Dilemma. He believes that international conflicts arise from mistaken beliefs,
as well as inadequate information and bad governments. As each side
increases their military, the more likely a war will start. Thus, the paradox of
the Prisoner’s Dilemma. Kant argues that because humans have rationality,
they can break out of the Prisoner’s Dilemma. This is a fundamental
difference between Kant and a traditional realist such as Morgantheau. The
fourth law is about a nation’s debt to the others. In this law, Kant argues that
nations indebted to one another will cause war. He states in this article that if
a nation face bankruptcy, then the nations that have loaned it funds will also
be adversely affected. Also, sovereignty of a nation is another law that Kant
argues to be important to world peace. Nations, he says, must not interfere
with the constitution of another. He implicitly reaffirms the principals of the
Treaty of Wesphaylia – sovereignty and noninterference. In the final article,
Kant addresses war directly. He states that if nations are at war, then they
should refrain from doing things during the course of war that would cause the
other nations to distrust them in future times of peace. By this, he is referring
to the use of assassins and treasonous deeds. This concludes the first section
of his essay. The second section of “Perpetual Peace” is more in depth. Kant
gives us three articles that define what type of government nations must apply
to reach a perpetual peace. He begins this section by arguing that it is not in
man’s nature to be at peace. He declares that the natural state of man is war.
He goes on to say: “…for the suspension of hostilities does not provide the
security of peace…” (111) However, it can be reached in a state of
lawfulness. Kant explains why republican constitutions are vital to ensure the
peace of nations. He reasons this by arguing that this is the only type of
government that guarantees freedom and equality of the people. Kant goes
on to state that the republican form of government is the most difficult to form
and maintain. But, he reaffirms that a republic is the type of government most
apt to achieve peace because it gives its people a voice, ensures
consequences for lawbreakers, and imposes a system of checks and
balances to divide the power equally amongst governmental bodies. Also, in
this article, Kant addresses the concept of sovereignty. Nations must not
interfere with the constitution of another because it may cause a war. In the
second article, Kant discusses his theory of a federation of nations. Wilson
referred to these ideas in his fourteen points. This theory encompasses the
ideas behind the creating of a League of Nations. This would help ensure that
every nation is pursuing what is in the best interest of world politics and not
just its own interest. This is Kant’s liberal third image thinking at its height. On
this subject Kant explains: “A league of a special sort must therefore be
established, on that we can call a league of peace, which will be distinguished
from a treaty of peace because the latter seeks merely to stop one war, while
the former seeks to end all wars forever.” (115) The third article is what Kant
calls the cosmopolitan right. This law deals with a nation’s peaceful
obligations to visitors from other nations. The law states that if a person is
visiting another nation, then that nation should treat him kindly and show him
no ill will. He further elaborates on the rights of nations to chose whether or
not to give a visitor extended or permanent residence. He believes that the
more nations interact, the less likely it is for war to break out between them.
He closes his writings with two supplements and an appendix. At this point in
his essay, Kant turns to a more philosophical viewpoint. He discusses a man’s
tendency to be in a state of war. Kant titles it the “Secret Article for Perpetual
Peace.” The secret is that the government should consult with philosophers on
matters of the state without the knowledge of the people. He believes that
philosophers are essential to searching for and solving the problems of war.
He explains that people revere the government as wise and must keep the
consultation private. But, he would like to make it possible for the
philosophers speak freely to the public. The end of his essay is entrenched in
his liberalism. He argues that politics needs some sense of morality for a
nation to stay at peace. Again, he refers to man’s natural state as a state of
war. In his appendix, he shares his view on how we can leave our natural
state for one of peace. This demonstrates how he turns a realist view liberal.
He sees the solution in the choices of mankind. He argues that people must
do what is right and make their decisions based on the good of the republic
to make peace become a reality. The majority of Kant’s essay is based on
liberal theory. He relies heavily on second image theories with his beliefs in
republican constitutions. He sees the causes of war to be linked to the nature
of state and government. He believes that states should form a union and not
merely act on their own accord. Kant reiterates: “For the sake of its own
security, each nation can and should demand that the others enter into a
contract resembling the civil one and guaranteeing the rights of each. This
would be a federation of nations, but it must not be a nation consisting with
nations” (115) A realist would find it difficult to be drawn into this type of
contract. Their philosophy is strictly first image and deals only with power.
Kant disagrees with a philosophy based solely on power struggles. He argues
that if the state meets his long term needs, then man will act in ways that best
serve the state. This also opposes the realist ideology. For instance, realists
argue that men only make decisions that affect him on a short run basis. In its
very conception, a republican government is a long term undertaking. His
main connection with the realist theory is his admittance that the natural state
of man is war. He confronts this throughout his essay. “The state of peace
among men living in close proximity is not the natural state; instead, the
natural state is one of war, which does not exist in open hostilities, but also in
constant and enduring threat of them.” (111) Kant argues that if we involve
morality in our decisions and choose what is right for our nation, then
perpetual peace will surely come. Throughout the essay, Kant offers his
views on avoiding war through compromising, problem solving, morality, and
a coming together of states to ensure peace. These ideals oppose the realist
thought because they do not place all the emphasis on war and power.
Instead, he focuses on the first image theories of the psychology of man and
relies heavily on second image theories of the nature of the state. Kant
stresses rule of law throughout his essay. He wants a governmental system
created whereby you have a society of laws and not of men. Kant starts out
at the first image as a realist by admitting the inherent warlike human nature of
mankind. As he moves to the second image he moves toward more liberal
beliefs. He sees the state as a means of implementing a moral society with a
structure that leaves no room for misbehavior. At the third image he becomes
quite liberal. If states can abide by laws, then they can work together in
harmony and morality. This is in sharp contrast with a classic realist like
Morgantheau who sees no room for morality in international relations.
However, Kant is not a naive liberal. For instance, he agrees with Thomas
Hobbes when he concurs that there is no law above the state. With this
knowledge in hand, he urges states to overcome their natural instincts and do
what will ensure a perpetual peace. Or else, he warns: “…the destruction of
both parties along with all rights is the result – would permit perpetual peace
to occur only in the vast graveyard of humanity as a whole.” (110)
Bibliography
Kant, Immanuel. Perpetual Peace. Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. 19
Другие работы по теме:
Kant And Disinterestedness Essay Research Paper
“which we Disinterestedness has been a reaccurant theme in aesthetic thought throughout recent times. Kant was one of the first to discribe disinterestedness as an basic and universal part of the aesthetic judgement experiance. However the notion of disinterestedness did not origninate with Kant; it is to be found in the writtings of many Eighteenth centuray philosophers such as Stolinitz, Shaftsbury, Hutcheson, Gerard and Burke.
Kant Goodness Essay Research Paper Kant Goodness
Kant: Goodness Essay, Research Paper Kant: Goodness The philosopher I used is Immanuel Kant. He was very practical in his thinking of goodness. A quote of his was “I ought, therefore I can”. His view
Kant 2 Essay Research Paper Morality Kant
Kant 2 Essay, Research Paper Morality, Kant says, cannot be regarded as a set of rules which prescribe the means necessary to the achievement of a given end; its rules must be obeyed without consideration of the consequences that will follow from doing so or not. A principle that presupposes a desired object as the determinant of the will cannot give rise to a moral law; that is, the morality of an act of will cannot be determined by the matter or content of the will for when the will is materially determined the question of its morality does not arise.
Freedom Essay Research Paper As with any
Freedom Essay, Research Paper As with any government, there is the necessity of an economy, or else the government would fail because economy is one of the basic necessities of a government. With a democracy like we have in a country of our size, managing this economy becomes a big problem. One important factor is; In a country based on freedom, how much are we willing to give up to keep the economy stable? None? A little bit? All of it? The answer is not as simple as any of those.
Free Speech Essay Research Paper When the
Free Speech Essay, Research Paper When the framers of the United States Constitution drew up the first amendment, they made an emphasis on free speech. Included in this first amendment were the freedom of the press, freedom of religion, right to assembly, and the prohibition of censorship. In this essay, the topic of hate-filled speech and its relation to the first amendment will be examined.
Anselm
’s Ontological Argument Essay, Research Paper As a theologian and philosopher, Saint Anselm strove to prove the existence of God in reality. The bulk of his argument is found in Chapter II of Proslogium.
Kants Morality Essay Research Paper Kant starts
Kant`s Morality Essay, Research Paper Kant starts off making two distinctions regarding kinds of knowledge, empirical/rational and formal/material. Empirical or experience-based knowledge
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper In today
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper In today’s society, if you ask five people who Jack Kevorkian is then three or more would know who he is. The issue of euthanasia has been on the media’s forefront for several years. There are several pros and cons to this issue. Some of these pros are as follows: it would help to end pain and suffering, it allows a person to die with dignity, and it also helps the grieving process because the person knows when they are gonna die.
Freedom Essay Research Paper Free to me
Freedom Essay, Research Paper Free to me means that you have no restrictions, no laws, and no boundaries controlling you. You can do basically what you want, when you want. If people were to follow my idea of freedom though, the world would be a chaotic place to live.
Freedom Essay Research Paper How can one
Freedom Essay, Research Paper How can one measure the meaning of freedom without understanding the torment of confinement. The dark, unfathomable reaches of a dank pit, the deep, unknown regions of a large tree, even the confines of school, all can be the breach of freedom.
Can Feelings Play A Role In Moral
Reasoning? Essay, Research Paper Can Feelings Play A Role In Moral Reasoning? The discussion of how feelings affect morality is quite prevalent in both David Hume and Immanuel Kant’s works. While each philosopher touches on the topic of feelings, both men differ in their outlook on the role feelings play in our moral lives.
Kant Essay Research Paper KANTKant begins to
Kant Essay, Research Paper KANT Kant begins to claim that there is nothing in the world that can be regarded as good without qualification except good will. He says that qualities of temperment such as
Trancendentalism Essay Research Paper TranscendentalismTranscendentalism is a
Trancendentalism Essay, Research Paper Transcendentalism Transcendentalism is a newly founded belief and practice that involves man’s interaction with nature, and the idea that man belongs to one universal and benign omnipresence know as the oversoul. The term was first introduced by German philosopher Immanuel Kant, and was published in his “Critique of Practical Reasoning”.
Hegel Essay Research Paper Georg Wihelm Friedrich
Hegel Essay, Research Paper Georg Wihelm Friedrich Hegel 1770- 1831 German Idealist Hegel was born in Stuttgart on August 27, 1770, which is now part of Germany. Hegel was the son of a revenue officer with the civil service. He studied the Greek and Roman classics while attending the Stuttgart preparatory school.
Rationality Essay Research Paper Mark KlassJune 1
Rationality Essay, Research Paper Mark Klass June 1, 2000 I believe rationality is incorrectly dictated by society. Generally when one is irrational he or she is contradicting the “normal” or what everyone is programmed to do. Kant says “Can you also will that your maxim should become a universal law.”1 In part I agree to the theory of universal law where “rational” is judged by universality or what everyone should do.
Hegel Vs. Marx
… Who Is More Free? Essay, Research Paper Human freedom is what Marx described it as: absolute knowledge derived from the realization that you are a part of everything and the lack of dependency on material goods. Marx s technique of thesi and antithesi coming together to form the next incantation of society is in my mind the most reasonable.
Positivism Essay Research Paper Positivism is a
Positivism Essay, Research Paper Positivism is a system of philosophy based on experience and experimental knowledge of natural sensation, in which metaphysics and theology are regarded as inadequate and imperfect systems of knowledge. (www.eb) The 19th-century French mathematician and philosopher Auguste Comte first called the doctrine positivism, but some of the positivist concepts may be traced to the British philosopher David Hume, the French philosopher Duc de Saint-Simon, and the German philosopher Immanuel Kant.
Metaphysis Essay Research Paper Hello I
Metaphysis Essay, Research Paper : Hello: : I need help, I have somes question would help me. 1. do the criticisms that hume makes of Design Arguments all apply to Thomas’ Teleological Argument?
Allen Ginsberg Essay Research Paper What exactly
Allen Ginsberg Essay, Research Paper What exactly does it mean to be American? What are the boundaries of freedom and liberty? Do we have the freedom to speak from the heart? Allen Ginsberg believed so, and he did just that.
Immanuel Kant
– Enlightenment Essay, Research Paper What is enlightenment? Immanuel Kant attempts to clarify the meaning of enlightenment while composing the essay, “What is Enlightenment?”. This document was written in response to political and social changes brought about by King Frederick of Prussia. The goal of Kant’s essay was to discuss what the nature of enlightenment was.
Hume Vs Kant Essay Research Paper Hume
Hume Vs. Kant Essay, Research Paper Hume vs. Kant On the Nature of Morality From the origin of Western philosophical thought, there has been an interest in moral laws. As Hume points out in the Treatise, "morality is a subject that interests us above all others" (David Hume "A Treatise of Human Nature’).
Discuss The Positive And Negative Aspects Of
Kant?s Idea Of League Of Nations? Essay, Research Paper Along the years, we have witnessed in recent decades the ongoing globalization of world trade, followed by vast rates of investment, and witnessed a new interdependence of the global economic system. The income gap is growing at an unstoppable rate, both within countries and between developed and developing countries.
Immanuel Kant Essay Research Paper Meetesh Patel
Immanuel Kant Essay, Research Paper Meetesh Patel Philosophy Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant is one of the most influential philosophers in the history of western philosophy. His contributions to metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics have had a profound impact on almost every philosophical movement that followed him.
Asses The Value Of Kant Essay Research
Paper The ethics of Immanuel Kant are based on the belief that ethics stem from rules and reason much like the law of gravity, they are universal and applied always regardless of circumstances. He believed that the capacity to reason was unique to man and when exercised this was what it meant to be a moral human being.
Immanuel Kant Vs Joshua Wegner Essay Research
Paper Joshua Wegner Philosophy 101 12/07/00 Trentacoste Immanuel Kant vs. Joshua Wegner THE RIGHT TO PUNISH: RETRIBUTIVISM As a society we all accept the fact that if you do something wrong you must be held responsible for your actions and pay the consequences. We all accept the concept of punishment, even though we are aware that we, ourselves, could one day be subjected to answer for our actions.
Moral Theory Essay Research Paper Moral TheoryRespect
Moral Theory Essay, Research Paper Moral Theory Respect for Persons: The moral theory, Respect for Persons, or Ethics of Respect for Persons, core theme is that all human beings should be paid equal respect. Like the bible says in Matthew 7:12, “. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”[1]. This theory has been connected to the German philosopher, Immanuel Kant.
Kant Essay Research Paper Immanuel Kant was
Kant Essay, Research Paper Immanuel Kant was a sound, grounded philosopher of the Enlightenment. His explanations were black and white, clear-cut, which may be seen as his greatest attribute, as well as his worst flaw. The drive behind all of Kant’s ideas was reason. To Kant, morality was a matter of rational, acting morally equaled acting rationally.
Kant Essay Research Paper Immanuel Kant 17241804
Kant Essay, Research Paper Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) had an interesting ethical system for reasoning. It is based on a belief that the reason is the final authority for morality. In Kant?s eyes reason is directly correlated with morals and ideals. Actions of any sort, he believed, must be undertaken from a sense of duty dictated by reason, and no action performed for appropriateness or solely in obedience to law or custom can be regarded as moral.
Mill And Kant Tell Us To Think
For Ourselves Essay, Research Paper Immanuel Kant simply stated the creed of the enlightenment: ?Dare to know,? (Kant 1). To thinkers like Kant, to achieve enlightenment was to ?gain release from?self-incurred tutelage?[the] inability to make use of [one?s] understanding without direction from another,? (Kant 1).
Transcendentalism Essay Research Paper Transcendentalism was an
Transcendentalism Essay, Research Paper Transcendentalism was an important movement in literature that occurred during the years of 1836-1860. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were the best-known transcendentalists. Ralph Waldo Emerson gave the German philosopher, Immanuel Kant, the credit for making ?Transcendentalism? a familiar term.
Kant S Ethics Essay Research Paper Kant
Kant S Ethics Essay, Research Paper Kant s Ethics In the Metaphysics of Ethics (1797) Kant described his ethical system, which is based on a belief that the reason is the final authority for morality. Actions of any sort, he believed, must be undertaken from a sense of duty dictated by reason, and no action performed for expediency
Kant
’s Fundamental Principles Of The Metaphysics Of Moral Essay, Research Paper Kant’s Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Moral The central concept of Kant’s Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of