In his Metaphysics of Morals (particularly in the Doctrine of Virtue), but also in other late works, Kant extends and refines the content of his earlier works on ethics (Groundwork and Critique of Practical Reason) to a considerable extent. These revisions and extensions not only show the limitations of an exclusive interpretation of Kant's ethics as a deontological ethics of principles. His thoughts are also relevant for a large number of questions of theoretical morality currently under discussion. Thus, the distinction drawn in the Doctrine of Virtue between perfect and imperfect obligations informs the problem of the solvability of moral conflicts and the role of supererogatory actions. Kant goes further into the question of what it means to be a good person, what moral significance is contained in close human ties such as friendship, and what role is played by happiness and the so-called obligations towards oneself. The papers each discuss Kant's central ideas in the context of his earlier writings, but also within the context of our contemporary ethical debates. Thus attention is drawn to the significance and possible extent of an ethics of virtue understood in the Kantian sense.

Erstmals im deutschsprachigen Raum werden in diesem reprasentativen Reader Arbeiten von Harry G. Frankfurt publiziert, dessen Uberlegungen bedeutsam wurden fur nicht-utilitaristische Werttheorien, fur die Ethik der Fursorge bzw. der Tugendethik, aber auch fur die moderne Rationalitatstheorie. Freiheit und Determinismus sind miteinander vereinbar diese Auffassung vertritt Frankfurt nachdrucklich. Zunachst entwickelte er ein hierarchisches Modell des Wunschens und arbeitete eine philosophische Begrundung fur das Argument aus, dass die Bedingung, jemand hatte anders handeln konnen, keine notwendige Bedingung fur Freiheit und Verantwortung bildet. In seinen neuesten Arbeiten entwirft er ein umfassenderes Konzept der Selbstbestimmung und der Rationalitat, wobei er sein fruheres Wunschmodell ersetzt durch ein erweitertes hierarchisches Modell fundamentaler Einstellungen, zu denen neben Wunschen nunmehr auch Uberzeugungen und Emotionen zahlen, die sich daher zugleich auf Konzeptionen unseres Charakters und unserer Integritat richten."

Dieser Sammelband vereint Beitrage, die sich mit der Philosophie von Harry G. Frankfurt auseinandersetzen; er liefert einen umfassenden Uberblick uber die internationale Diskussion seines Werks."

Practical conflicts pervade human life. Agents have many different desires, goals, and commitments, all of which can come into conflict with each other. How can practical reasoning help to resolve these practical conflicts? In this collection of essays a distinguished roster of philosophers analyse the diverse forms of practical conflict. Their aim is to establish an understanding of the sources of these conflicts, to investigate the challenge they pose to an adequate conception of practical reasoning, and to assess the degree to which that challenge can be met. These essays will serve as a major resource for students of philosophy but will also interest students and professionals in related fields of the social sciences such as psychology, political science, sociology and economics.

Practical conflicts pervade human life. Agents have many different desires, goals, and commitments, all of which can come into conflict with each other. How can practical reasoning help to resolve these practical conflicts? In this collection of new essays a distinguished roster of philosophers analyse the diverse forms of practical conflict. Their aim is to establish an understanding of the sources of these conflicts, to investigate the challenge they pose to an adequate conception of practical reasoning, and to assess the degree to which that challenge can be met. These essays will serve as a major resource for students of philosophy but will also interest students and professionals in related fields of the social sciences such as psychology, political science, sociology and economics.