Kant's Non-Voluntarist Conception of Political Obligations: Why Justice is Impossible in the State of Nature

Varden, Helga

doi:10.1017/s1369415400001217

Cited by 48 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…See O'Neill 1989. 53 For example, a number of scholars argue that Kant thinks that a rightful state must provide unconditional provision against absolute poverty (See Ripstein 2009;Varden 2008;Wood 2014). Since securing the basic means of survival is a necessity for being a purposive agent, on this reading, Kant thinks that provision against absolute poverty must be provided by public means in order to make the protection of private property consistent with everyone's freedom.…”

Section: Downloaded By [University Of Sussex Library] At 04:47 24 Junmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…54 Kant's practical philosophy may be thought to be associated with what is now called 'ideal theory' but this question is complicated. On the one hand, Kant's account of justice is not that it is a remedial virtue that we need because of deficiencies in the state of nature or human nature, but rather an account of ways in which public law (which involves certain kinds of public institutions) is necessary for individuals who have an innate right to freedom to live together in ways which are consistent with respecting each of their freedom (see Varden 2008). This might make it sound like an ideal theory.…”

Section: Downloaded By [University Of Sussex Library] At 04:47 24 Junmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Kant’s Racism

Allais

2016

Philosophical Papers

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

After a long period of comparative neglect, in the last few decades growing numbers of philosophers have been paying attention to the startling contrast presented between Kant's universal moral theory, with its inspiring enlightenment ideas of human autonomy, equality and dignity and Kant's racism. Against Charles Mills, who argues that the way to make Kant consistent is by attributing to him a threshold notion of moral personhood, according to which some races do not qualify for consideration under the categorical imperative, I argue that Kant cannot be made consistent on race, and that rather than trying to make him so, we should use the example of Kant's racism to tell us something about the nature of racism. I argue that Kant's own moral philosophy and moral psychology in fact give some materials for thinking about his racism, and about racism.

show abstract

Section: Downloaded By [University Of Sussex Library] At 04:47 24 Junmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Downloaded By [University Of Sussex Library] At 04:47 24 Junmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kant’s Racism

Allais

2016

Philosophical Papers

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Kant's argument contributes to the larger argument of this part of the ‘Doctrine of Right,’ which concerns the question of why justice is impossible in the state of nature. I deal with this issue in ‘Kant's Non‐Voluntarist Conception of Political Obligations: Why Justice is Impossible in the State of Nature’ (Varden, ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Kant and Women

Varden

2015

Pacific Philosophical Qtr

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Kant's conception of women is complex. Although he struggles to bring his considered view of women into focus, a sympathetic reading shows it not to be anti-feminist and to contain important arguments regarding human nature. Kant believes the traditional male-female distinction is unlikely to disappear, but he never proposes the traditional gender ideal as the moral ideal; he rejects the idea that such considerations of philosophical anthropology can set the framework for morality. This is also why his moral works clarifies that all citizens, including women have the right, and should be encouraged to strive towards an active condition.

show abstract

“…Cf. Varden (2008b). Kersting (1992a) finds the Hobbesian argument in Kant, but also an additional argument, which he calls “genuinely Kantian”.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Kant’s Political Philosophy

Ebels-Duggan¹

2012

Philosophy Compass

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Kant’s political theory stands in the social contract tradition, but departs significantly from earlier versions of social contract theory. Most importantly Kant holds, against Hobbes and Locke, that we have not merely a pragmatic reason but an obligation to exit the state of nature and found a state. Kant holds that each person has an innate right to freedom, but it is possible to simultaneously honor everyone’s right only under the rule of law. Since we are obligated to respect each person’s right to freedom, and can do so only in a state, we are obligated to submit to the authority of the state if we have one, and to establish one if we do not. In the first half of the essay I reconstruct this argument in more detail. In the second half I survey four points of controversy: (i) What is the relationship between Kant’s political philosophy and his moral philosophy? (ii) How does the innate right to freedom support the postulate that we are permitted to acquire property and other private rights? (iii) How does the postulate support an obligation to found the state? (iv) How should we understand Kant’s views about political revolutions?

show abstract

Kant's Non-Voluntarist Conception of Political Obligations: Why Justice is Impossible in the State of Nature

Cited by 48 publications

References 12 publications

Kant’s Racism

Kant’s Racism

Kant and Women

Kant’s Political Philosophy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About