## Introduction ## 1. Kant #### Key terms **Practical reason:** In Kant's framework, practical reason is not just about solving problems or making everyday decisions. It's the mental faculty responsible for determining what we ought to do, given our understanding of moral laws. It operates under the guidance of the "categorical imperative," a principle that demands actions be universally applicable without contradiction. It's like your internal ethical GPS, guided by the "universal law" satellite. *Example: Donating to charity* If you have extra money, practical reason would guide you to consider donating it to charity because it aligns with moral law, as defined by the categorical imperative. You'd think, "Would a world where everyone donates when they can coexist? Yes, it would be a good world." **Categorical Imperative**: Kant's fundamental moral principle. Ask if an action could become a universal law without contradiction. **Doctrine of Virtue:** A guide for being a good person. Internal moral duties & virtuous behavior. **Doctrine of Right** A rulebook for moral action. External, enforceable laws. **Delimit:** To define the boundaries or limits of something. (The spheres enabled by right and virtue have boundaries that don’t fully overlap.) **Coextensive:** Having the same scope or range; covering the same area. (The spheres of right and virtue are not coextensive. They don’t cover the same moral & legal grounds.) **Universal Principle of Right:** An action is right if it can coexist with everyone’s freedom according to a universal law. i.e. Your actions should not inhibit someone else’s freedom and vice verse. **Maxim:** Fundamental principle or rule that guides behavior. (Coercion can’t reach our maxims; it can’t force us to change our moral principles.) **Spatiotemporal:** Relating to both time & space. (Right is limited spatiotemporal interactions: what can be empirically observed.) #### Summary Kant argues the moral law (set of universal ethical rules) is what informs or dictates practical reason (the faculty of mind concerned with decision-making, especially in regards to what we ought to do). The Doctrine of Virtue starts from the categorical imperative, the moral "ought", and deals with moral feelings. The Doctrine of Right is about laws that can be enforced to guide our interaction with others. *The basic argument is that rightful external freedom (i.e. interaction with others) requires us to regulate our interactions by the Universal Principle of Right: an action is right if it doesn't interfere with other's freedom.* Right is enabled by external laws of freedom and virtue by internal laws of freedom. So, they don’t contradict each other, but they also operate in different spheres. One main reason for that is “right” uses coercion, while “virtue” does not. Kant asserts that coercion is acceptable only when it serves to protect free interaction under a set of universal rules. The foundation of Kant's theory of right is a person's innate right to freedom. Additionally, there's a duty to be an honorable person. All principles proposed as part of Kant's theory of justice and freedom must be consistent with ideas. An account of rightful property relations requires us to explain how spatiotemporal objects can become 'mine or thine.' Our bodies are automatically our property, but for external objects, a synthetic a priori proposition is required.