The Error in the Groundwork: Kant’s Revision of the Imperatives and Prudence as Technical Ability

Studia Kantiana 17 (1):29-48 (2019)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

The paper examines Kant’s self-criticism to the account of hypothetical imperatives given in the "Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals". Following his corrections in the introductions to the third "Critique", the paper traces the consequences of that change in his later writings, specifically with regard to the status of prudence. I argue that the revision of the account of hypothetical imperatives leads to differentiate, and ultimately separate, two functions in prudence: the setting of ends through maxims, and the pragmatic rules establishing means to reach those ends. Accordingly, I furthermore argue, there is ultimately no genuine structural distinction between the rules of prudence and skill. The only difference lies in the domain in which prudence unfolds, that is, the field of human relations, and in the relevant cognitions.

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

The Normativity of Prudence.Markus Kohl - 2017 - Kant Studien 108 (4):517-542.
Are methodological rules hypothetical imperatives?David B. Resnik - 1992 - Philosophy of Science 59 (3):498-507.
Klugheit Bei Kant.Claudia Graband - 2015 - Berlin / Boston: De Gruyter.
Moralbegründung ohne metaphysik.Norbert Hoerster - 1983 - Erkenntnis 19 (1-3):225 - 238.
Personal identity and rationality.Derek Parfit - 1982 - Synthese 53 (2):227-241.
Kant’s Hypothetical Imperatives.Dieter Schönecker & Christoph Horn - 2006 - In Dieter Schönecker & Christoph Horn (eds.), Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals. Walter de Gruyter.
Prudence and Anti-Prudence.Evan Simpson - 1998 - American Philosophical Quarterly 35 (1):73 - 86.

Analytics

Added to PP
2019-08-29

Downloads
503 (#48,980)

6 months
106 (#53,688)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Stefano Bacin
Università degli Studi di Milano

Citations of this work

Kant on the Ends of the Sciences.Thomas Sturm - 2020 - Kant Studien 111 (1):1-28.
Prudencia epistémica en Kant.Luis Moises López Flores - 2021 - Con-Textos Kantianos 14:369-388.

Add more citations

References found in this work

The genesis of Kant's critique of judgment.John H. Zammito - 1992 - Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
The genesis of Kant's « Critique of Judgment».John H. ZAMMITO - 1992 - Revue Philosophique de la France Et de l'Etranger 182 (4):639-639.

View all 14 references / Add more references