Eigentum und Staatsbegründung in Kants 'Metaphysik der Sitten'

Unlike conventional interpretations of Kant's Rechtslehre, Rainer Friedrich demonstrates that Kant does not derive the necessity of a state of public law from natural property law. Rather, the innate human right of liberty forms the subjective legal basis of the state.

The close textual analysis both consults the preparatory studies to the doctrine of law and virtue and Kant's relevant lectures and considers contemporary commentaries. The study emphasizes the systematicity of duty underlyi...