Rethinking Immanuel Kant (Click title to play podcast)

In this podcast the ethical philosophy of Immanuel Kant is presented as the best way of understanding the moral principle on which modern democracy is grounded. Rather than thinking of that principle—what Kant calls "the Categorical Imperative”—as a formula, we should understand its role in showing us not what to think but how to think about any and every moral issue. Kant, like Plato, is primarily concerned with helping us think for ourselves about the most important questions. The Categorical Imperative is best conceived as a single principle that allows important distinctions among three aspects of moral thought and action. It is presented through the image of a triangle with three sides, each representing a distinct aspect: 1. universality, 2. the intrinsic value of persons, and 3. autonomy.

This podcast includes excerpts from philosophical texts and performances published by Agora Publications. Please visit the Agora Website to view descriptions and samples of the complete works.