The Limits of Kant’s Cosmopolitanism: Theory, Practice, and the Crisis in Syria

Department or Administrative Unit

Philosophy and Religious Studies

Document Type

Article

Author Copyright

© Kantian Review 2017

Publication Date

5-5-2017

Journal

Kantian Review

Abstract

Although Kant defends a cosmopolitan ideal, his philosophy is problematically vague regarding how to achieve it, which lends support to the empty formalism charge. How Kant would respond to the crisis in Syria reveals that judgement plays too central a role, because Kantian principles lead to equally reasonable but opposite conclusions on how to weigh the duty of hospitality to refugees against a state’s duty to its own citizens, the right of prevention towards ISIS against the duty not to harm non-combatants, and the responsibility to protect the people of Syria against the duty of non-interference in its internal affairs.

Comments

This article was originally published in Kantian Review. The full-text article from the publisher can be found here.

Due to copyright restrictions, this article is not available for free download from ScholarWorks @ CWU.

Link to Full Text
Contact Author

Share

COinS