The Place of Political Philosophy within Kant’s Philosophical System

Question 1

Kant’s political philosophy is a branch of what particular kind of philosophy?

Answer 1

practical philosophy

Question 2

Kant broadly divides his philosophy into what two divisions?

Answer 2

theoretical and practical philosophy

Question 3

Within practical philosophy, political philosophy is distinguished from what other two parts?

Answer 3

empirical elements and from virtue proper

Question 4

How can we characterize practical philosophy?

Answer 4

as a set of rules governing free behavior of rational beings

Question 5

For Kant, practical philosophy covers all human action, which includes what two aspects?

Answer 5

pure and applied (empirical, or “impure”) aspects

Question 6

What is pure practical philosophy?

Answer 6

the rational elements of practical philosophy in abstraction from anything empirical

Question 7

What does Kant identify as pure practical philosophy?

Answer 7

“metaphysics of morals” (4:388)

Question 8

Kant wrote an essay opposing a view associated with Hobbes. What is Hobbes’ view?

Answer 8

that the politician need not be concerned with abstract right but only with pragmatic governance

Question 9

Kant’s view is opposed to Hobbes’ pragmatic view of governance because he emphasizes what aspect of political philosophy?

Answer 9

the pure aspect

Question 10

Even though Kant emphasizes the priority of the pure aspect of political philosophy, he also includes what other aspect?

Answer 10

the more pragmatic, impure, empirical study of human behavior

Question 11

For ethics in general, what did Kant call the empirical study of human beings as agents within particular cultures and with particular natural capacities?

Answer 11

anthropology