Do Children Have Common Sense?
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Kate Moran
Abstract
This essay makes a distinction between common sense and common moral sense. For Kant, common moral sense applies also to children. Even if Kant’s claims regarding moral development are questionable, they do give us a novel viewpoint from which to consider his moral theory. Kant connects his points about common sense to the categorical imperative. Common sense moral commitments among children are crucial to Kant’s suggested methods of teaching children about morality and instilling in them an interest in morality.
Abstract
This essay makes a distinction between common sense and common moral sense. For Kant, common moral sense applies also to children. Even if Kant’s claims regarding moral development are questionable, they do give us a novel viewpoint from which to consider his moral theory. Kant connects his points about common sense to the categorical imperative. Common sense moral commitments among children are crucial to Kant’s suggested methods of teaching children about morality and instilling in them an interest in morality.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Acknowledgments VII
- Table of Contents IX
- Table of Abbreviations XI
- Translator’s Introduction 1
- Kant for Children: Questions and Answers for the Teaching of Morality 11
- Shlomo Friedlaender: Portrait of a Jewish Kantian 63
- Kant, Philosophy, and the Public 67
- Do Children Have Common Sense? 85
- “If You Want to Write for Children”: Conflicting Advice from Kant and Friedlaender 105
- Above All Things Human: Bestimmung in Salomo Friedlaender’s Kant for Children 121
- Equality and Reciprocity, or: The Primacy of the Practical 141
- Notes on Contributors 145
- Index 147
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Acknowledgments VII
- Table of Contents IX
- Table of Abbreviations XI
- Translator’s Introduction 1
- Kant for Children: Questions and Answers for the Teaching of Morality 11
- Shlomo Friedlaender: Portrait of a Jewish Kantian 63
- Kant, Philosophy, and the Public 67
- Do Children Have Common Sense? 85
- “If You Want to Write for Children”: Conflicting Advice from Kant and Friedlaender 105
- Above All Things Human: Bestimmung in Salomo Friedlaender’s Kant for Children 121
- Equality and Reciprocity, or: The Primacy of the Practical 141
- Notes on Contributors 145
- Index 147
