Chapter 5: Kant, Enlightenment thinking and perpetual peace

Question 1

What is Kant’s definition of Enlightenment?

Answer 1

Kant defines Enlightenment as “man’s release from his self-incurred tutelage”: namely, “man’s inability to make use of his understanding without direction from another.”

Question 2

What are the three definitive articles of perpetual peace according to Kant?

Answer 2

1. All states should become republics, ensuring internal and interstate responsible behaviour.
2. Republican states should form a pacific union, regulating interactions and renouncing war.
3. There should be a guarantee of cosmopolitan right, ensuring universal rights of all individuals.

Question 3

How do Kant’s views on perpetual peace relate to his political theory within his philosophy of history?

Answer 3

Kant believed that natural forces and human self-interest in safety and commerce would inevitably lead to communities forming states and living in peace with each other, aligning both moral and prudent reasons towards perpetual peace.

Question 4

What is the impact of Kant’s writings on liberal international relations (IR) theory?

Answer 4

Kant’s ideas have influenced cosmopolitan normative thought in IR, emphasising morality and the imperative for a more peaceful global society, and have inspired the democratic peace theory

Question 5

How do scholars differ in their interpretation of Kant’s moral cosmopolitanism?

Answer 5

Some scholars view Kant’s moral cosmopolitanism as a call for political boundary expansion and reform of the sovereign state system, while others argue that Kant advocated for a federation of all sovereign states, maintaining their independence.

Question 6

How do Kant’s views on race complicate his moral philosophy?

Answer 6

Kant’s racial views, which posited a hierarchy of human races and limited reason and moral progress to white Europeans, raise questions about the universality and ethical consistency of his moral and political philoso

Question 7

Is Kant’s vision one of transcending the state system or improving it?

Answer 7

Kant sought to improve the state system by advocating for republican constitutions, a pacific union, and cosmopolitan rights, rather than completely transcending the current state system.

Question 8

Is Kant a proponent of moral cosmopolitanism, political cosmopolitanism, or both?

Answer 8

Kant is a proponent of both moral and political cosmopolitanism, advocating for universal moral principles and a federation of states that would respect each other’s sovereignty while adhering to shared principles of peace and rights.

Question 9

what are the 5 main arguments that Doyle’s democratic peace theory is based on a misreading of Kant according to Cavallar (2001)

Answer 9

1. Doyle’s interpretation of Kant’s first definitive article is considered mistaken, as it is at odds with Kant’s texts and basic premises.
2. Doyle’s approach emphasises institutional restraint and shared cultural norms, which is distinct from Kant’s pragmatic argument and transcendental claim.
3. Doyle’s juxtaposition of liberal and illiberal states is criticised as a fallacy of essentialism, as Kant’s political philosophy sees the distinction among states as a matter of degree rather than kind.
4. Doyle’s interpretation is criticised for taking Kant’s transcendental claims as statements that can be verified empirically, which is not in line with Kant’s philosophy.
5. Doyle’s definition of liberalism is considered anachronistic and goes beyond Kant’s definition of a republic, as it eliminates the democratic, participatory element from Kant’s republicanism.

Question 10

What are the implications of Kant’s views on race for his moral and political philosophy?

Answer 10

Kant’s racial views suggest a contradiction in his philosophy, which professes universalism but may be implicitly grounded in Eurocentric and white supremacist ideas, thus undermining the intended universality of his ethical and political doctrines.

Question 11

What does Allais (2016) argue

Answer 11

that there is a stark contrast between Kant’s universal moral theory, which emphasises human autonomy, equality, and dignity, and his racist views. The document discusses the debate around whether Kant’s racism undermines the universalism of his moral theories, and whether his racist statements contradict his moral philosophy. It also explores the implications of Kant’s racism for understanding the nature of racism and how pervasive it can be in a person’s belief system. Additionally, the document argues that rather than trying to make Kant consistent, his racism can tell us something about the nature of racism and that his practical philosophy provides materials for understanding racism.