Is Kant a moral constructivist or a moral realist?

Paul Formosa*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The dominant interpretation of Kant as a moral constructivist has recently come under sustained philosophical attack by those defending a moral realist reading of Kant. In light of this, should we read Kant as endorsing moral constructivism or moral realism? In answering this question we encounter disagreement in regard to two key independence claims. First, the independence of the value of persons from the moral law (an independence that is rejected) and second, the independence of the content and authority of the moral law from actual acts of willing on behalf of those bound by that law (an independence that is upheld). The resulting position, which is called not 'all the way down' constructivism, is attributed to Kant.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)170-196
Number of pages27
JournalEuropean Journal of Philosophy
Volume21
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2013

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