How does Kant think? An interpretive proposal from an ordonomic perspective

Ingo Pies

No 2025-10, Discussion Papers from Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Chair of Economic Ethics

Abstract: This article interprets Kant from an ordonomic perspective: How does Kant think, and why does he think the way he does? - Kant seeks to ground human dignity. To this end, he conceives the idea of thinking the supreme principle of morality as an end that is at the same time a duty. He thus identifies a specific form that enables every person to apply the categorical imperative as a moral criterion. Kant ties the universality of this form to the universality of human dignity. His rigorism-his strategy of purification-thus concerns thinking, not acting. He welcomed actions done from duty, even when they were accom- panied by personal interests, by "pleasure and love." For contemporary theory-building, two aspects are of particular interest: (a) Kant recognized the importance of institutional incentives for moral progress; (b) Kant's theoretical architecture employs purposiveness as a regulative idea and aims to produce theory for practice-by formulating ideas that anticipate and prepare their own realization.

Keywords: Liberal philosophy of reason; moral and political autonomy; human dignity; priority of the right over the good; purposiveness as a regulative idea; conflict as a driver of progress; Vernunftphilosophie der Freiheit; moralische und politische Autonomie; Menschenwürde; Vorrang des Rechten vor dem Guten; Zweckmäßigkeit als regulative Idee; Konflikt als Motor des Fortschritts (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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