Kant

Synopsis

In this outstanding introduction, Paul Guyer uses Kant s central conception of autonomy as the key to all the major aspects and issues of Kant s thought. Beginning with a helpful overview of Kant s life and times, Guyer introduces Kant s metaphysics and epistemology, carefully explaining his arguments about the nature of space, time and experience in his most influential but difficult work, The Critique of Pure Reason . He offers an explanation and critique of Kant s famous theory of transcendental idealism and shows how much of Kant s philosophy is independent of this controversial doctrine. He then examines Kant s moral philosophy, his celebrated Categorical imperative and his theories of duty, freedom of will and political rights. Finally, he covers Kant s aesthetics, in particular his arguments about the nature of beauty and the sublime, and their relation to human freedom and happiness. He also considers Kant s view that the development of human autonomy is the only goal that we can conceive for both natural and human history. "