How Hume and Kant Reconstruct Natural Law: Justifying Strict Objectivity without Debating Moral Realism

Synopsis

Kenneth R. Westphal Presents An Original Interpretation Of Hume's And Kant's Moral Philosophies. He Argues That Focusing On The Differences Between These Two Accounts Occludes A Decisive, Shared Achievement: A Constructivist Account Of The Basic Principles Of Justice Which Does Not Depend On Moral Realism Nor Moral Anti-realism Or Irrealism. Reconstructing Moral Constructivism -- Objectivity, The Euthyphro Question, And Reconstructing Natural Law -- Hume's Construction Of Justice -- Hume's Proof Of The Insufficiency Of Moral Sentiments -- Kant's Principles Of Moral Constructivism -- Natural Law Constructivism And Rational Justification -- Constructivism, Contractarianism, And Basic Obligations -- Kant's Justification Of Rights To Usufruct -- Reintegrating Justice Into Morals. Kenneth R. Westphal. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 221-246) And Indexes.