
Immanuel Kant · English
Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, published in German in 1785 and often known in English as the Groundwork, is Immanuel Kant's short…
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Pagera Editor's Note
Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, published in German in 1785 and often known in English as the Groundwork, is Immanuel Kant's short foundational work on ethics. Kant argues that the only thing good without qualification is a good will, and that an action has moral worth only when it is done from duty. He distinguishes hypothetical from categorical imperatives and formulates the categorical imperative: act only on a maxim you can will as a universal law, and treat humanity always as an end, never merely as a means. In three sections the argument moves on to autonomy and freedom. This is Thomas Kingsmill Abbott's translation.
Immanuel Kant · English
Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, published in German in 1785 and often known in English as the Groundwork, is Immanuel Kant's short…
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Original (English)
Ancient Greek philosophy was divided into three sciences: physics, ethics, and logic. This division is perfectly suitable to the nature of the thing; and the only improvement that can be made in it is to add the principle on which it is based, so that we may both satisfy ourselves of its completeness, and also be able to determine correctly the necessary subdivisions.
Pagera Editor's Note
Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, published in German in 1785 and often known in English as the Groundwork, is Immanuel Kant's short foundational work on ethics. Kant argues that the only thing good without qualification is a good will, and that an action has moral worth only when it is done from duty. He distinguishes hypothetical from categorical imperatives and formulates the categorical imperative: act only on a maxim you can will as a universal law, and treat humanity always as an end, never merely as a means. In three sections the argument moves on to autonomy and freedom. This is Thomas Kingsmill Abbott's translation.

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