Review by Choice Review
The synoptic organization of this second edition (1st ed., CH, Apr'07, 44-4388) illuminatingly represents the systematic structure of Kant's philosophical ideas. Guyer (Brown Univ.), a renowned authority on and translator of Kant, divides his discussion into three parts. The first, "Nature," is devoted to the Critique of Pure Reason and the Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science. Part 2, "Freedom," discusses Kant's three main ethical texts (the Groundwork, the Critique of Practical Reason, and the Metaphysics of Morals). Part 3, "Nature and Freedom," covers the Critique of Judgment. Each part comprises chapters on each of the texts, and each chapter ends with a convenient summary and directions for further reading. Guyer's discussion is careful and thorough, situating detailed consideration of elements and arguments in the context of Kant's thought as a whole, as well as its intellectual background. Material from the first edition has been largely preserved; the major changes in the second edition reflect developments in Guyer's interpretation of Kant's conception of freedom. Despite its clarity and introductory ambitions, this book is not for beginners in philosophy. But no text will provide a better or more helpful survey of Kant's achievement for advanced students or academic professionals. --Roman Bonzon, Augustana College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
At the cusp of the 19th century, German philosopher Immanuel Kant created a sensation in the arena of Western thought by expounding a moral philosophy that treated a priori principles and sense experiences as dual sides of the coin of reality. His personal life was far more prosaic, impressive for its sheer smallness: he never traveled far beyond his birthplace, was a man of legendarily regular habits, and created no scandals. Guyer (philosophy, Univ. of Pennsylvania), who has treated Kantian ideas in a host of texts (e.g., The Cambridge Companion to Kant), here addresses his subject's intellectual development, having worked through the bare facts of his daily life in the first chapter. Each chapter ends with well-considered recommended reading for further understanding. Scholarly in tone but straightforward in narrative construct, this is an excellent overview for readers in need of a refresher on Kantian philosophy or wanting the big picture into which to insert the details. Essential for scholars and accessible to motivated undergraduates.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley P.L., CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Library Journal Review
