Acting for a Reason. What Kant’s Concept of Maxims Can Tell Us about Value, Human Action, and Practical Identity
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Steffi Schadow
Abstract
In Kant scholarship, the concept of maxims is discussed, for the most part, from the perspective of the universalization procedure of the categorical imperative. In fact, however, it has a much wider relevance. As is shown in this contribution, maxims are fundamental to Kant’s theory of action and value. Since the agent expresses his or her pro-attitudes, i. e., interests, preferences, and life plans based on maxims, they figure as constitutive elements of his or her practical identity. After some general and historical considerations of Kant’s concept of maxims, it is shown that their function in the theory of the ‘practical syllogism’ implies that maxims play an important role in considerations on the agent’s ends, goals, and purposes. Additionally, I will discuss the function of maxims in Kant’s action theory. I will defend an interpretation of the Kantian idea according to which practical deliberation can be understood based on a hierarchical order of maxims. Finally, the problem of higher-order maxims and the issue of the unity and inner consistency of maxims will be debated.
Abstract
In Kant scholarship, the concept of maxims is discussed, for the most part, from the perspective of the universalization procedure of the categorical imperative. In fact, however, it has a much wider relevance. As is shown in this contribution, maxims are fundamental to Kant’s theory of action and value. Since the agent expresses his or her pro-attitudes, i. e., interests, preferences, and life plans based on maxims, they figure as constitutive elements of his or her practical identity. After some general and historical considerations of Kant’s concept of maxims, it is shown that their function in the theory of the ‘practical syllogism’ implies that maxims play an important role in considerations on the agent’s ends, goals, and purposes. Additionally, I will discuss the function of maxims in Kant’s action theory. I will defend an interpretation of the Kantian idea according to which practical deliberation can be understood based on a hierarchical order of maxims. Finally, the problem of higher-order maxims and the issue of the unity and inner consistency of maxims will be debated.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Introduction VII
- List of Sigla of Kant’s Works XV
- Kant’s Conception of Value – Realistic Enough? 1
- Kant’s Value Prescriptivism 23
- Kant on Moral Value in the Groundwork 41
- Acting for a Reason. What Kant’s Concept of Maxims Can Tell Us about Value, Human Action, and Practical Identity 65
- Blind Spots in the Formula of Humanity: What Does it Mean not to Treat Someone as an End? 89
- The Relationship between Dignity and the End in Itself in Kant’s Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals 105
- Some Remarks on the Concept of Good in the Second Chapter of the Analytics in Kant’s CPR 123
- The Moral Value of the Will. The Concepts of Good and Evil in the Second Chapter of Kant’s Critique of Practical Reason 139
- Kant’s Cosmopolitanism and the Value of Humanity – Implications for a Universal Right to Citizenship 163
- Honeste Vive and Legal Personality in Kant’s Metaphysics of Morals 181
- Kant’s Problematic Theory of the Value of Marriage 197
- Is Whatever Diminishes the Hindrances to an Activity a Furthering of this Activity Itself? Kant on Moral Value from Respect for the Law 217
- Manipulation and the Value of Rational Agency 241
- About the Authors 263
- Index 267
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Introduction VII
- List of Sigla of Kant’s Works XV
- Kant’s Conception of Value – Realistic Enough? 1
- Kant’s Value Prescriptivism 23
- Kant on Moral Value in the Groundwork 41
- Acting for a Reason. What Kant’s Concept of Maxims Can Tell Us about Value, Human Action, and Practical Identity 65
- Blind Spots in the Formula of Humanity: What Does it Mean not to Treat Someone as an End? 89
- The Relationship between Dignity and the End in Itself in Kant’s Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals 105
- Some Remarks on the Concept of Good in the Second Chapter of the Analytics in Kant’s CPR 123
- The Moral Value of the Will. The Concepts of Good and Evil in the Second Chapter of Kant’s Critique of Practical Reason 139
- Kant’s Cosmopolitanism and the Value of Humanity – Implications for a Universal Right to Citizenship 163
- Honeste Vive and Legal Personality in Kant’s Metaphysics of Morals 181
- Kant’s Problematic Theory of the Value of Marriage 197
- Is Whatever Diminishes the Hindrances to an Activity a Furthering of this Activity Itself? Kant on Moral Value from Respect for the Law 217
- Manipulation and the Value of Rational Agency 241
- About the Authors 263
- Index 267
