Browse Book and Journal Content on Project MUSE
OR

Buy This Article

Kant's Conception of Humanity

From: Journal of the History of Philosophy
Volume 45, Number 2, April 2007
pp. 291-308 | 10.1353/hph.2007.0033

Abstract

Contemporary Kant scholarship generally takes 'humanity' in Kant's ethical writings to refer to beings with rational capacities. However, his claims that only the good will has unqualified goodness and that humanity is unconditionally valuable suggests that humanity might be the good will. This problem seems to have infiltrated some prominent scholarship, and Richard Dean has recently argued that, in fact, humanity is indeed the good will. This paper defends, and tries to make sense of, the more conventional view that humanity and the good will are distinct.



Access your Project MUSE content using one of the login options below

Athens

Please see your librarian for assistance with Athens authentication.

Shibboleth

Shibboleth authentication is only available to registered institutions.

Project MUSE

Research Areas

Recommend

  • You have access to this content
  • Free sample
  • Open Access
  • Restricted Access