Kant on Humanity and the Ground of the Innate Right to External Freedom

Abstract

The dissertation explores three different interpretations of the “humanity” which Kant claims is the basis of the innate right to freedom. It argues against two interpretations which fail to fully appreciate the metaphysical and normative underpinnings of the sense of humanity which Kant takes to ground the innate right. It then argues for a view on which moral personality, our capacity for morally responsible agency which presupposes transcendental freedom, is the foundation of the innate right to freedom