Kant's Political Legacy

Luigi Caranti (PhD Boston University) is associate professor of political philosophy at the Universita di Catania. He focuses on Kant and political philosophy, and has published books and articles in peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Political Philosophy, Kant Studien and Journal of Human Rights.

`In his latest book, Luigi Caranti writes clearly and with insight not only about the legacy of Kant's political philosophy, but also about our present political condition and the painful gap between the two. Arguing that Kant correctly interpreted can in fact offer better concrete guidance for political action in today's world than many of his foes as well as friends realise, this is a work from which all thoughtful readers concerned with reducing injustice will benefit.' -Professor Robert B. Louden, University of Southern Maine ; `Luigi Caranti demonstrates the importance of Kant's political philosophy for today's world. His defence of Kant's rigorous commitment to the principle of the supreme value of personal freedom, combined with his need for sensitivity in the application of this fundamental principle, should be a lesson not just for Kant scholars and political philosophers, but for politicians and citizens throughout the world.' Professor Paul Guyer, Brown University `Kant's political thought, as contained in a series of books and essays from the 1780s and 1790s, combines a primarily juridical perspective on the norms of civic life with a focus on the conditions of political progress toward equal freedom. Luigi Caranti's book on Kant's lasting legacy in political philosophy builds on recent international scholarship in the field, while seeking to extend the appeal of Kant's thinking to contemporary political issues and concerns. Concentrating on three central interrelated topics (human rights, world peace and political progress), Caranti manages to move Kantian political thought from the level of abstract principles to the sphere of concrete political precepts. In the process, Kant emerges as a significant resource for current political theory and practice.'-Gunter Zoeller, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat, Munich ; 'Its objective is not only to offer a coherent vision of Kant's political philosophy on the basis of a detailed analysis of the sources, but, in addition, to elucidate the theoretical tools which are to be found in his thought with which we can confront at the global level the great political challenges of our century.' - Philosophy and Society Vol 29 No 4 (2018) ; 'One ot the great virtues of Luigi Caranti's book is to bring out at every stage the realism of Kant's grasp of the human condition, whilst at the same time emphasizing the commitment to progress and cosmopolitan peace that lies at the heart of Kant's political philosophy.' - Howard Williams, Cardiff University ; 'Luigi Caranti's Kant's Political Legacy is a rich and illuminating study of Kant's continuing relevance in three areas: human rights, democratic peace, and the ethics of statesmanship. Caranti's book is a welcome addition to the recent revival of interest in Kant's political philosophy. It is also wide-ranging, and has the notable (and rare) advantage of being accessible to non-specialists while not losing in sharpness.' - Andrea Sangiovanni

• IntroductionPart I: Human Rights1.Kant's Theory of Human Rights2.Human Rights: The Contemporary Debate3. The Foundation of Human Rights: The Dignity ApproachPart II: Peace4.Kant's Theory of Peace 5.Democratic Peace Theory6.Comparing and Assessing the Two ModelsPart III: Progress7.Kant's Early Teleology in Idea8.To perpetual peace: A Secular Guarantee of Progress?9.Progress and Political Agency