Naturalism and Realism in Kant's Ethics

In this comprehensive assessment of Kant''s metaethics Frederick Rauscher shows that Kant is a moral idealist rather than a moral realist and argues that Kant''s ethics does not require metaphysical commitments that go beyond nature. Rauscher frames the argument in the context of Kant''s non-naturalistic philosophical method and the character of practical reason as action-oriented. Reason operates entirely within nature and apparently non-natural claims - God free choice and value - are shown to be heuristic and to reflect reason''s ordering of nature. The book shows how Kant hesitates between a transcendental moral idealism with an empirical moral realism and a complete moral idealism. Examining every aspect of Kant''s ethics from the categorical imperative to freedom and value this volume argues that Kant''s focus on human moral agency explains morality as a part of nature. It will appeal to academic researchers and advanced students of Kant German idealism and intellectual history.