mmanuel Kant´s three critiques - the Critique of Pure Reason, the Critique of Practical Reason and the Critique of Judgment - are among the pinnacles of Western Philosophy. This accessible study grounds Kant´s philosophical views in the context of his intellectual influences, most notably against the background of the scepticism and empiricism of David Hume. It is an ideal critical introduction to Kant´s position in the key areas of knowledge and metaphysics; morality and freedom; and art and natural beauty. By examining the Kantian system in the light of contemporary arguments, Ward brings the structure and force of Kant´s ´Copernican Revolution in Philosophy´ into sharp focus. Kant is often misrepresented as a somewhat arid thinker, yet the clarity of Ward´s exposition of his main themes, science, morality and aesthetics, through the three critiques brings his writings and theories to life. Lucidly and persuasively written, this book will be a valuable resource for students and scholars seeking to understand Kant´s immense influence on modern philosophy.
Contents: AbbreviationsForewordPart I: Critique of Pure ReasonSection I: A general introduction to Kant´s Copernican revolution in Philosophy, and its relation to scientific knowledge and transcendent metaphysicsSection II: The division of judgments, and the status of mathematics and natural scienceSection III: The Transcendental Aesthetic: the nature of space and timeSection IV: The Transcendental Analytic: how our experience - our knowledge of objects in space and time - is made possibleSection V: The Transcendental Dialectic: why no theoretical knowledge in transcendent metaphysics is possiblePart II: Critique of Practical ReasonSection I: The Analytic of Pure Practical Reason: reason not sentiment as the foundation of morality, and how freedom of the will is proved Section II: The Dialectic of Pure Practical Reason: how morality establishes the existence of God and the immortality of the soulSection III: The importance of Kant´s Copernican revolution to his moral philosophyPart III: Critique of JudgmentSection I: The Analytic of Aesthetic Judgment: defending a third way between an empiricist and a traditional rationalist theory of tasteSection II: The Dialectic of Aesthetic Judgment: why the judgment of taste and our attitude to natural beauty require a Copernican revolution in aestheticsSection III: A Kantian or Human theory of taste?Section IV: Teleology and the Principle of the Finality of NatureBibliography