Abstract

This extraordinarily lucid contribution to Kant scholarship leads the reader through Kant's entire system to its ultimate political payoff. Murphy takes pains to include the relevant elements of Kant's precritical and critical philosophy. As his work approaches its final topic, the philosophy of right, Murphy's style shifts smoothly from summarization and abstract elucidation toward detailed argumentation and casuistry. His presentation is fruitfully embedded in a historical context which includes : Hobbes, Leibniz, Locke, Hume, Rousseau, Mill, Hare, Hart, and Rawls. Of special interest is the discussion of Kant's inaugural dissertation and his criticism of Leibnizian philosophy as presented there.--M. D. P. [[sic]]