What's Left of Philosophy 82 | The State and Right: Kant's Metaphysics of Morals
Feb 7, 2024
Kant's metaphysics of morals explores the role of the state in guaranteeing justice and perpetual peace, but also authorizes the state to kill and denies the right to rebel. The podcast discusses the moral feeling of beheading monarchs, Kant's views on rebellion and revolution, and his admiration for the French Revolution. It also explores topics such as unpleasant smells' impact on moral sense, cryptocurrency, the death penalty, and issues related to rights, immigration, and wealth ownership.
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Freedom Implies Legitimate Coercion
- Kant treats freedom as a principle that requires coercion to prevent others' freedoms from being violated.
- This makes a sovereign state morally necessary to enforce universally binding laws of right.
Rebellion Has No Moral Right
- Kant argues there is never a right to rebel against established sovereign authority.
- He also says citizens must respect a new government even when a rebellion succeeds.
Perpetual Peace As The Doctrine's Aim
- Kant locates the ultimate aim of public right in the pursuit of universal and lasting peace.
- He treats perpetual peace as an ideal to approximate through rightful institutions and laws.