Roger J. Sullivan: Immanuel Kant’s Moral Theory

Cambridge University Press, 1989     Amazon.com

Book Description:

This comprehensive, lucid, and systematic commentary on Kant’s practical (or moral) philosophy is sure to become a standard reference work. Kant is arguably the most important moral philosopher of the modern period, yet, prior to this detailed study, there have been no attempts to treat all of his work in this area in a single volume. Using as nontechnical a language as possible, the author offers a detailed, authoritative account of Kant’s moral philosophy, including his ethical theory, his philosophy of history, his political philosophy, his philosophy of religion, and his philosophy of education. He also demonstrates the historical, Kantian origins of such important notions as “autonomy,” “respect for others,” “rights,” and “duties.” An invaluable resource, this book will be extremely useful to advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and professional philosophers alike.

Reviews:

“…it provides a framework within which individual works can be located and some helpful guidance through their complexities. One might wish that it could be a reader’s first introduction to Kant’s moral theory.”  Mary Gregor, San Diego State University, in Review of Metaphysics

“Perhaps even more effectively than Kant himself, Roger J, Sullivan attempts to carry out Kant’s project of moral self-understanding…Kant seems to have found a new voice in this extraordinarily lucid commentary…a fairly comprehensive account of the whole of Kant’s practical philosophy which is both readable and intellectually challenging. Sullivan’s expository style successfully illuminates aspects of Kant’s moral philosophy that would typically be overshadowed by excessive criticism and well intentioned attempts to reconstruct a more acceptable reading. This is a remarkable achievement and one suspects that this work will become a standard reference for students of Kant’s moral theory for some time to come.”  Peter P. Cvek, The Review of Politics

‘Sullivan writes in the light of Kant’s entire writings on action, reason and morality and includes accounts of the philosophy of religion, of history and of politics. He does so in a way that is clear and definite with a sequence and balance of topics that seems to me very good … there is no other book in English that offers such a comprehensive, broadly accurate yet accessible treatment.’  Onora O’Neill, University of Essex

JOB’s Comment:

I said last year that I would not normally include in the References category and on the References page the scholarly works I cite and discuss in the historical posts in the Philosophy category, but only such that are more directly relevant to my own positions. But perhaps I should reconsider this; the historical works are often more than indirectly relevant, and I now tend to think that at least the most important should probably be added.