Kant's critique of Hobbes : sovereignty and cosmopolitanism
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Kant's critique of Hobbes : sovereignty and cosmopolitanism
（Political philosophy now）
University of Wales Press, 2003
- : cased
- : pbk
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Note
Bibliography: p. 233-236
Includes index
Description and Table of Contents
- Volume
-
: pbk ISBN 9780708318140
Description
In "Leviathan" (1651), Thomas Hobbes lays out the theoretical basis of the Westphalian Order - dominant in European politics from the treaty of Westphalia in 1648 until the end of World War II - in which sovereign and absolutist national states compete against each other for power and influence. In opposition to Hobbes, Immanuel Kant develops a theory of cosmopolitan right in which state sovereignty is matched with a gradually developing world federation of peaceful states. Similarly, Kant opposes Hobbes's self-centred moral theory with a moral theory which is based on self and the community. This study looks at the relationship between the two thinkers. It demonstrates the viable alternative to Hobbes' orthodoxy that can be found in Kant's political writings. It also shows how Kant anticipates the development of a world-wide political order and suggests that through Kant's political philosophy, the sovereignty of the individual state and cosmopolitanism (world-citizenship) can be brought into agreement.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction: Kant and Hobbes
- 2. Revolution and Civil War in Kant and Hobbes
- 3. Christian Garve, Kant and the German Enlightenment
- 4. Liberty in Kant and Hobbes
- 5. Hobbesian equality and Kant's theory of equality
- 6. Independence and Citizenship in Kant and Hobbes
- 7. Political Change in Kant
- 8. Perpetual Peace as a Response to Hobbes's political philosophy
- 9. Conclusion
- Volume
-
: cased ISBN 9780708318157
Description
Kant's Critique of Hobbes is a unique systematic study of the relationship between the two thinkers. In it, Howard Williams demonstrates the viable alternative to Hobbes' orthodoxy that can be found in Kant's political writings. Looking closely at the main concepts that are in contention in Kant's relationship with Hobbes - freedom, equality and independence - the book sheds new light on ideas that lie at the foundations of contemporary political order. Williams shows also how Kant helps anticipate the development of a world-wide political system and suggests that through Kant's political philosophy, the sovereignty of the individual state and cosmopolitanism (world-citizenship) can be brought into agreement.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction: Kant and Hobbes
- 2. Revolution and Civil War in Kant and Hobbes
- 3. Christian Garve, Kant and the German Enlightenment
- 4. Liberty in Kant and Hobbes
- 5. Hobbesian equality and Kant's theory of equality
- 6. Independence and Citizenship in Kant and Hobbes
- 7. Political Change in Kant
- 8. Perpetual Peace as a Response to Hobbes's political philosophy
- 9. Conclusion
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