3. Why did he write it?
In 1795 Immanuel Kant wrote it
inspired by the Peace
between Prussia and French.
Kant thought to state a set of
principles that could provide a
stable and lasting peace.
In his book Kant asserts a
series of preliminary articles,
written in negative form,
and of definitive articles,
written in positive form, in
order to propose a peace
program to all
governments.
5. Preliminary articles
•All the “preliminary articles”
are designed, in Kant’s view,
to make war less likely and
future peace more likely
•Their specific content is
based on Kant’s historical
experience
7. A Republican Constitution
•A constitution where the people are only subject to
laws it gives itself
•But the executive and legislative power are separate
•Note that in Kant’s time such constitutions hardly
existed
•When a people (through its representatives) has to
decide on whether or not to go to war, it will weigh its
costs much more carefully than when a despotic ruler
decides the question
8. What is a "Federation of free
states"?
•It is not a world state or a superstate
•It is concerned only with regulating
international disputes among its members
•A powerful free people may serve as the
nucleus of a federation, which might then
grow
•Or several regional federations might grow
over time
9. What is the right of ospitality?
•The right to
visit and trade
(not
necessarily to
live)
How does it lead to peace?
•Trade is ultimately incompatible with
war
•It counteracts our natural
“separating” tendencies (via
language, culture, etc.) and creates
mutual understanding
•Kant argues against “conquest” in
the name of trade
10. What is the right of ospitality?
•The right to
visit and trade
(not
necessarily to
live)
How does it lead to peace?
•Trade is ultimately incompatible with
war
•It counteracts our natural
“separating” tendencies (via
language, culture, etc.) and creates
mutual understanding
•Kant argues against “conquest” in
the name of trade
