Critical exposition of ‘human nature’ in kant’s Perpetual peace
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Type
Article
Date
2022-03
Journal Title
Philosophical Papers Journal of Department of Philosophy
Journal Editor
Bhattacharyya, Anureema
Joardar, Koushik
Mukherjee, Anirban
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of North Bengal
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Shukla, P. (2022). Critical exposition of ‘human nature’ in kant’s Perpetual peace. Philosophical Papers Journal of Department of Philosophy, XVIII, 55–62. https://ir.nbu.ac.in/handle/123456789/4624
Authors
Shukla, Prashant
Advisor
Editor
Abstract
A detailed description of the grand vision for ‘world peace’ has been presented in Immanuel
Kant’s 200 year old essay Perpetual Peace. Due credit is attributed to this seminal work on
account of the lasting impact it made on peace studies, the conception of the United Nations and
the realization of a new world-order based on everlasting peace. It is, however, to be noted here
that the temporary conclusion is not about ‘what will be’ and ‘how it can be realized’, rather
about ‘what ought to be’. This objective is tentatively, though not conclusively, made in the very
First Supplement of this work. Kant, here, doesn’t give a description of the preconditions for
acquisition of everlasting peace, but gets engaged in the issues pertaining the underlying rationale
and justification of the entire enterprise.
With this context, the present paper proposes to have a closer look at the following questions: the
notion, pervasive throughout Perpetual Peace, that ‘human nature is necessarily evil’ (the state of
nature is the state of war); the notion that ‘Nature, standing in for a divine Providence, employs
the very inclinations that push people to make war guides them further towards eventual peace;
and the possibility and desirability of going beyond a loose league of nations and achieve and
integrated ‘world republic’.
Throughout his essay (and some of his other writings), Kant builds on this assumption that human
nature is evil or ‘dissolute’, a significant exodus from Rousseau’s position . Experts presume that
Kant borrowed this pessimistic view from Hobbes and it is an undeniable fact that this position
recalls his English predecessor’s state of nature as a ‘war of all against all’ (bellum omnium
contra omnes, Leviathan, 1651). It is also true that Kant mentions Hobbes occasionally, but not
necessarily in an approving way. If Kant rejects Hobbes’ suggested solution of ‘coercive rights’
(of the sovereign) unduly brutal, it is first of all because his understanding of the state of things is
fundamentally different. Kant’s exposition of the ‘fallen human nature’ in his Religion Within the
Bounds of Bare Reason is indispensable to be read if one is to comprehend how he believes that a
decisive step can be taken toward a ‘state of peace’. Here, he clearly conveys his belief in human
beings’ implicit proclivity to do evil, while at the same time being conscious of the categorical
imperative to do what is right. In Religion as well as in Perpetual Peace, Kant’s declarations are
very close to the Biblical verses.
Description
Citation
Accession No
Call No
Book Title
Edition
Volume
ISBN No
Volume Number
XVIII
Issue Number
ISSN No
0976-4496
eISSN No
Pages
Pages
55 - 62