Abstract

Kant’s distinctive contribution to understanding both the law and the morality of war is his conception of the state as a public rightful condition. This idea comes into sharper focus when we look at the development of Kant’s views, as well as at his engagements with Gottfried Achenwall, from whose textbook he was required to teach. This interim conception of public right brings has all of the pieces on which he will latter build, but not yet the conceptual order in which to organize them.