Review of Schulz's Moral Guide
Kant examines a morality intended for readers of different religions whose premises reduce thought and will to necessary processes. He asks how those premises could support advice, responsibility and distinctions between good and evil.
Understanding the text
The 1783 review precedes the Groundwork and confronts a determinism presented as the basis of moral education.
Key points
- 01
Necessity
Describing action as a natural effect does not explain why conduct ought to be corrected.
- 02
Degrees
Reducing truth and error, virtue and vice to quantitative differences alters the meaning of evaluation.
- 03
Practical freedom
Addressing someone to guide conduct presupposes that the person can regard themselves as an agent.
How to read it
Separate Kant's summary of Schulz's positions from his objections; reported propositions are not automatically endorsed by the reviewer.
Editions & sources
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗