Samuel Kahn

Can Positive Duties be Derived from Kant's Formula of Universal Law?

According to the standard reading of Kants formula of universal law (FUL), positive duties can be derived from FUL. In this article, I argue that the standard reading does not work. In the first section, I articulate FUL and what I mean by a positive duty. In the second section, I set out an intuitive version of the standard reading of FUL and argue that it does not work. In the third section, I set out a more rigorous version of the standard reading of FUL and argue that even this more rigorous version does not work.

Kant and the duty to promote one’s own happiness

In his discussion of the duty of benevolence in §27 of the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant argues that agents have no obligation to promote their own happiness, for ‘this happens unavoidably’ (MS, AA 6...

Positive Duties, Maxim Realism and the Deliberative Field

Author Posting

Kant and the foundations of morality

ment of contracts. So far I have been able only to give glimpses of Zarka’s argument. From the topics already referred to, there follows Zarka’s chapters on Hobbes on war, property, and punishment; all contain much to ponder, as well as interesting comparisons between Hobbes and other political philosophers, including Filmer and Pascal. I hope that this short and simple review is enough to stimulate a careful reading of Zarka’s book which contains very much more at which this brief essay can only hint.