The Invention of Autonomy A History of Modern Moral Philosophy [Hardcover]

Study of the history of moral philosophy which puts Kant's ethics into historical context.J.B. Schneewind's remarkable book is the most comprehensive study ever written of the history of moral philosophy. Its aim is to set Kant's still influential ethics in its historical context by showing in detail what the central questions in moral philosophy were for him and how he arrived at his own distinctive ethical vie ws. In its range, analyses, and discussion of the subtle interweaving of religious and political thought with moral philosophy, this is an unprecedented account of the evolution of Kant's ethics.J.B. Schneewind's remarkable book is the most comprehensive study ever written of the history of moral philosophy. Its aim is to set Kant's still influential ethics in its historical context by showing in detail what the central questions in moral philosophy were for him and how he arrived at his own distinctive ethical vie ws. In its range, analyses, and discussion of the subtle interweaving of religious and political thought with moral philosophy, this is an unprecedented account of the evolution of Kant's ethics.J.B. Schneewind's remarkable book is the most comprehensive study ever written of the history of moral philosophy. Its aim is to set Kant's still influential ethics in its historical context by showing in detail what the central questions in moral philosophy were for him and how he arrived at his own distinctive ethical views. In its range, analyses, and discussion of the subtle interweaving of religious and political thought with moral philosophy, this is an unprecedented account of the evolution of Kant's ethics.Preface; Acknowledgements; A note on references and abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Themes in the history of modern moral philosophy; Part I. The Rise and Fall of Modern Natural Law: 2. Natural law: from intellectualism to voluntarism; 3. Setting religion aside: republicanism and skepticism; 4. Natural law restated: Suarez and Grotius; 5.ls6