Pay particular attention to Section II: the theory of right. This is Wood's summary of Kant's theory of legal/political rights and obligations. You can tell much about whether you understand Kant's theory if you can answer the following questions:
| Why does Kant think there is no right to rebel against an unjust government? |
| How is this view consistent with his view that the government's scope of legitimate authority over the citizens is limited? |
Note how Kant's approach to international relations would condemn the US-led invasion of Iraq. Do you agree with Kant?
Pay particular attention also to Section IV: a review of Kant's approach to religious belief.
| Note that Kant abandoned the idea that a reasonable person would have incentive to be moral only if he thought that God would ensure worthy people of happiness. After developing his moral theory it became apparent to Kant that desire to be rational could motivate rationality, since being moral is being rational. |
| Think about Kant's argument that it is reasonable to believe in God even though one can't have a rational proof that there is a God. What does Kant's argument really show, if it is accepted? Does it really show that it is reasonable to believe in God, or does it only show something less ambitious? |
| Is Kant's religion only about how to live morally? Is that genuine religion? |