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Basic Writings of Kant (Modern Library Classics)

Basic Writings of Kant (Modern Library Classics)

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An Easy to Read Selection of Kant Writings
Review: My review is more by accident then intentional logging on to write a review. While surfing around, I stumbled here to check out a couple of reviews and noticed some with astonishing errors; either due to a lack of writing a detailed review or just not understanding Kant's ideas. The problem may also lie in that anthologies don't carry the full selection of a person's arguments (although with one reviewer it is just an obvious case of silly ignorant ramblings)

Wood's book is readable and it is true that Kant is never an easy read, but neither are most Prussian Philosophers of the same era.

Whatever Kant's metaphysical faults are, he is not a relativist, but tried, although many have asserted unsuccessfully, to construct an objective moral framework on reason alone (although Kant did believe in God and asserted that the Christian religion was the closet to a true objective construct; however, that is precisely the problem of anthologies, because all they do is give one a snap shot of someone's work. Further, Kant asserted God as a practical necessity if humans were going to reach the highest good (summum bonum).

Lastly, is trying to limit the role of reason to make room for faith. He limits knowledge by demonstrating that reason belongs in the empirical realm (phenomenal) and the things-in-itself are actually in the noumenal world beyond the reach of the senses. For someone as lengthy as Kant, short reviews cannot do justice. If one gets this book, then they should also get "The Cambridge Companion to Kant" also sold on Amazon and edited by Kant scholar Guyer.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good anthology.
Review: This section of Immanuel Kant met my needs. It had the selections of Kant's writings that I needed, and all under one volume. I congratulate the editors for including references to the original works in the margins. This makes their edition useful as a stepping stone for studying the larger books.

As to the translation, it was readable, which is the best that can be expected from Kant. The Prussian philosopher is notorious fro his run on sentence, subordinate and sub-subordinate clauses, and abstruseness. He would give Strunk and White a heart-attack. With this caveat, I found the translation a readable as humanly possible.

*

Since this review is about the book, rather than the content of Kant's philosophy, I will not extensively comment on it. With his "Critique of Pure Reason," Kant asserts that our mind affects our perceptions. In other words, reason is in doubt. This statement is self-contradictory, and therefore invalid. If we doubt our minds, then we must doubt the conclusion that we doubt our minds, since our mind reached this conclusion.

Kant is the father of modern skepticism, and the godfather of relativism. As demonstrated, relativism is an incoherent, and therefore unlivable philosophy. Thank you, Immanuel!

Secondly, his "categorical imperative" is ineffective. He appeals to duty, but duty is not an irreducible primary. The duty is always in relation to either self, to others, or to God. Secondly, duty is merely a means, but it is not an end in itself. What is the "telos" of duty? No explanation.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The Misogynist's Handbook
Review: Was that one star or five? Hmm... we'll meet in the middle.

Kant's writings are an excellent source for anyone who aspires to eurocentric, caucasian male chauvinism.

He's an even better read for anyone wanting to dispute such a perogative.


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