Difficult Freedom and Radical Evil in Kant: Deceiving Reason

by Joel Madore

Publisher:

Continuum

, 2011

To speak of evil is to speak of a gap between what is and what should be. If classical approaches to this problem often relied on a religious or metaphysical framework to structure their response, Kant's answer is typically modern in that it places within the subject the means of its own moral regeneration. And yet from his first essays on ethics to later, more rigorous writings on the issue, Kant also admits an undeniable fallibility and inherent weakness to humanity.

This book explores this neglected existential side of Kant's work. It presents radical evil as vacillating between tragic and freedom, at the threshold of humanity. Through it's careful exegesis of the Kantian corpus, in gauging contemporary responses from both philosophical traditions, and by drawing from concrete examples of evil, the book offers a novel and accessible account of what is widely considered to be an intricate yet urgent problem of philosophy.

Features

Exposes a neglected existential side to Kant's thought.
Addresses the weaknesses and strengths of Kant's account of freedom.
Brings together the political and ethical ramifications of radical evil.

Contents

Acknowledgements \ List of abbreviated works \ Introduction \ Chapter 1. Evil in the Critical Works \ 1.1 Valuing Existence \ 1.2 Discerning Evil: Facing Alterity, Assuming Responsibility \ 1.3 New Beginnings \ 1.4 The Unanswered Question. \ Chapter 2. The Moral Deficit \ 2.1 Imperfect Reason \ 2.2 The Enigma of Freedom \ 2.3 Sacred Duty \ Chapter 3. The Inherent Propensity \ 3.1 The Project of Religion \ 3.2 Sketching the Problem \ 3.3 The Propensity to Evil \ Chapter 4. Freedom in Question \ 4.1 Rights and Wrongs: Deceit in the Public Space \ 4.2 Mendacity and Subjectivity \ 4.3 Time and Evil \ Chapter 5. In Reality... \ 5.1 Investigating Evil: The Final Clues \ 5.2 Cases in Point \ Chapter 6. Stretching the Limits \ 6.1 A Philosophical Problem? \ 6.2 Kant's Saving Grace: Reason, History, and Human Nature \ Conclusion \ Notes \ Bibliography \ Index

Praise for Difficult Freedom and Radical Evil in Kant

Generally, I greatly enjoyed reading this monograph as it is original, thought-provoking, well-informed, well-structured and creatively written. Joel Madore's account of Kant's tense togetherness of a morality based upon absolute freedom conjoined with a radical notion of evil is refreshing and fascinating. It explores a much neglected 'existentialist' side to Kant, which is nefariously pessimistic in nature.

Product Details

• Title: Difficult Freedom and Radical Evil in Kant: Deceiving Reason
• Author: Joel Madore
• Publisher: Continuum
• Print Publication Date: 2011
• Logos Release Date: 2024
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9781441111524, 9781472513076, 147251307X, 1441111522
• Resource ID: LLS:9781441111524
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-05-15T15:48:57Z

About the Author

Joël Madore is Professor of Philosophy at Dominican University College, Ottawa, Canada.