Zhu Gaozheng on Kant

Author: Zhu Gaozheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: The three critiques are indeed the most representative works of Kant's critical philosophy, and his critical and transcendental philosophy were established through the three critiques. However, Kant's philosophical system is generally divided into theoretical philosophy and practical philosophy, the latter of which is further divided into ethics and philosophy of law. The philosophy of law is then divided into the philosophy of natural law and the philosophy of the state. The doctrine concerning "the outer king" is primarily focused on the philosophy of law. Moreover, most of Kant's major works on the philosophy of law were published after the French Revolution of 1789, especially after King Louis XVI was executed in January 1793. Kant's discussions on the justification of state legitimacy and the "right to revolution" were all centered around the French Revolution. Kant's monograph on the philosophy of law, Metaphysics of Morals (Volume 1) – Principles of Jurisprudence – was published in 1797, making it the most important work of Kant's life, next to the three critiques. This book is divided into three parts: the first part provides a comprehensive overview of Kant's philosophy, the second part discusses Kant's practical philosophy, the third part covers Kant's natural law theory, and the fourth part presents Kant's philosophy of the state. The first two parts serve as the foundation for the third and fourth parts, while the latter two provide the most systematic and comprehensive discussions on Kant's "outer king" doctrine in the Chinese-speaking world to date. Additionally, the appendix includes a preface written by Mr. He Zhaowu for this book, titled The Philosophy of Critique and the Critique of Philosophy, which briefly reviews the development of Kantian studies in China over the past century.