Understanding Kant

Alongside Descartes, Kant is the leading author of modernity: his influence on science, morality, politics and aesthetics is considerable. Many of today's ethical dilemmas (biology, medicine, etc.) make reference to Kantian thought. A knowledge of Kantian philosophy is imperative if we are to find our way through the major issues of our modern times. This book sets out the salient features of Kantian thought and proposes an interpretation of it, breaking with the cliche of a humanist Kant placing man above all else. It argues that man is one of the most imperfect samples of the true object of Kantian thought, namely the reasonable being in general.