States, states of nature and the moral law: a comparison between Immanuel Kant’s and Thomas Hobbes’ political and legal theory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31977/grirfi.v24i2.4794Keywords:
State; Law; Right of Resistance; Kant, Hobbes.Abstract
This article delves into the philosophical theses on law and ethics as presented by Thomas Hobbes and Immanuel Kant, with a focus on the notion of resistance in a legal context. It contrasts Hobbes’ advocacy for nearly unrestricted state authority and a morality closely tied to the state, against Kant’s emphasis on moral law and natural rights as the underpinnings of legality. A pivotal discussion point is Kant’s perceived contradiction in supporting a fundamental right to freedom while limiting the right to resist laws that infringe upon this freedom. By comparing these philosophical authors, the article posits that Kant’s theory of resistance requires integration with his broader ethical views, suggesting that human rights should constrain positive law.
Downloads
References
KANT, I. Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (M. Gregor, Trans.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. (Original work published 1785)
KANT, I. The Metaphysics of Morals (M. Gregor, Trans.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. (Original work published 1797)
HÖFFE, Otfried. Kants Kritik der praktischen Vernunft: eine Philosophie der Freiheit. München: Verlag, C.H. Beck, 1996.
KANT, I. Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten. Riga: Johann Friedrich Hartknoch, 1785.
KANT, I. Die Metaphysik der Sitten. Königsberg: Friedrich Nicolovius, 1797.
HÖFFE, Otfried. Kants Kritik der praktischen Vernunft: eine Philosophie der Freiheit. München: Verlag C.H. Beck, 2012. Pp. 229.
CURLEZ, E. (Ed.). Leviathan: With Selected Variants From the Latin Edition of 1668. Hackett Publishing Company, 1994.
ROUSSEAU, J.-J. On the Social Contract. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1987. (Edited by Donald A. Cress) (Original work published 1762)
HOBBES, Thomas. Leviathan. Harmondsworth,: Penguin Books. Edited by C. B. Macpherson, 1651.
BENTHAM, J. An introduction to the principles of morals and legislation (J. H. Burns & H. L. A. Hart, Eds.). Dover Publications, 1780.
HART, H. L. A. The concept of law (2nd ed., P. A. Bulloch & J. Raz, Eds.). Oxford University Press, 1977.
COLLINS, J. The Early Modern Foundations of Classic Liberalism. In G. Klosko (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the History of Political Philosophy (pp. 258-268). Oxford University Pres, 2011.
VON DER PFORDTEN, D. Zum Recht auf Widerstand bei Kant. In Menschenwürde, Recht und Staat bei Kant. Brill | mentis, 2009.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Fernando Campos
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The authors who publish in Griot: Revista de Filosofia maintain the copyright and grant the magazine the right of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, allowing sharing and adaptation, even for commercial purposes, with due recognition of authorship and initial publication in this journal. Read more...
