Kant On Eternal Peace

Abstract

Kant’s various teachings concerning (world)peace are characterized by a philosophically unique realism. Thereby, they are fundamentally distinguished from all preceding doctrines about peace. This thesis of realism refers to various aspects, respectively levels, of the doctrine, namely: 1) in general to the assumptions of the doctrine of Right² altogether; 2) in particular to the assumptions of the doctrine of eternal peace; 3) to the recommendations with regard to the realization of eternal peace; 4) to the reasons by which Kant justifies the hope with regard to eternal peace; 5) to Kant's strict denial of a specifically political »morals«.

This paper has been presented to the 8th International Kant Congress in Memphis (USA) March 1995. A greatly enlarged (»scholarly«) version is forthcoming in Hariolf Oberer (ed), Kant. Analysen -Probleme–Kritik, vol. II, Würzburg 1995.