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Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals

Immanuel Kant · 1785

Kant's 1785 work laying out the categorical imperative, the foundation of his moral philosophy.

Kant's own text introducing the categorical imperative, the core of his ethical system.

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Title page of Kant's Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten, printed in black Fraktur blackletter: 'Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten, von Immanuel Kant', with a decorative rococo ornament, a rule, and 'Riga, bey Johann Friedrich Hartknoch 1785' on a cream page.
Immanuel Kant, Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten, title page, 1785.

About this source

What it is

Written by Immanuel Kant and published in 1785, this short book is the first of his major works on ethics, followed later by the Critique of Practical Reason and The Metaphysics of Morals. In it Kant tries to find the basic principle underlying all morality.

Why it matters

Kant introduces the categorical imperative: the idea that we should only act according to rules we could want everyone else to follow too. This was a sharp break from earlier moral theories based on feelings or on consequences, and it remains one of the most influential ideas in ethics, studied in philosophy and religious education classes to this day.

Look closer

  • Why might Kant have thought morality needed to be worked out through pure reasoning rather than through feelings or experience?
  • What might be difficult about applying a rule you could 'will to become universal law' to a real situation?
  • What does the plain, undecorated title page suggest about how seriously this kind of book was meant to be taken?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Immanuel Kant on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Title page of the 1781 first edition of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. Blackletter title reads Critik der reinen Vernunft, von Immanuel Kant, Professor in Königsberg. Below: Riga, verlegts Johann Friedrich Hartknoch, 1781, with a floral wreath ornament.Book

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Critique of Pure Reason

Immanuel Kant · 1781 (revised 1787)

Printed page in German blackletter type headed 'Beantwortung der Frage: Was ist Aufklärung?' with the opening lines of Kant's essay, beginning 'Aufklärung ist der Ausgang des Menschen aus seiner selbst verschuldeten Unmündigkeit.' Page footer reads '2ter Band'.Book

Primary source

Answering the Question: What Is Enlightenment?

Immanuel Kant · 1784

Title page of Kant's 'Zum ewigen Frieden' printed in black Fraktur type. Text reads 'Zum ewigen Frieden. Ein philosophischer Entwurf von Immanuel Kant', with publication line 'Königsberg, bey Friedrich Nicolovius, 1795' at the bottom.Book

Primary source

Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch

Immanuel Kant · 1795

Title page of the 1788 German edition of Kant's Critique of Practical Reason: 'Critik der practischen Vernunft von Immanuel Kant', with a floral wreath ornament, 'Riga, bey Johann Friedrich Hartknoch 1788', and a purple library stamp at bottom right.Book

Primary source

Critique of Practical Reason

Immanuel Kant · 1788 (completed 1787)

Title page of the 1790 German edition of Kant's Critik der Urtheilskraft. Large black gothic-style heading 'Critik der Urtheilskraft', 'von Immanuel Kant', a vignette of a small figure and plant engraving, and imprint 'Berlin und Libau, bey Lagarde und Friederich, 1790'. Faint English title 'Critique of Judgment' appears in the background.Book

Primary source

Critique of Judgment

Immanuel Kant · 1790

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