In this ambitious book, philosopher Otfried Hoeffe provides a sophisticated account of the principle of freedom and its role in the project of modernity. Hoeffe addresses a set of complex questions concerning the possibility of political justice and equity in the modern world, the destruction of nature, the dissolving of social cohesion, and the deregulation of uncontrollable markets. Through these considerations, he shows how the idea of freedom is central to modernity, and he assesses freedom's influence in a number of cultural dimensions, including the natural, economic and social, artistic and scientific, political, ethical, and personal-metaphysical. Neither rejecting nor defending freedom and modernity, he instead explores both from a Kantian point of view, looking closely at the facets of freedom's role and the fundamental position it has taken at the heart of modern life. Expanding beyond traditional philosophy, Critique of Freedom develops the building blocks of a critical theory of technology, environmental protection, economics, politics, medicine, and education. With a sophisticated yet straightforward style, Hoeffe draws on a range of disciplines in order to clearly distinguish and appreciate the many meanings of freedom and the indispensable role they play in liberal society.

Kant s "Critique of Pure Reason" is so outstanding among modern philosophical works, that it can be termed "the" foundation of modern philosophy. Schopenhauer termed it "the most important book ever to have been written in Europe." Otfried Hoffe guides the reader through the "Critique" one step at a time, expounding Kant s thoughts, submitting them to an interpretation and drawing a summary conclusion, placing the work and its topics within the context of its modern successors. A "critical" interpretation of Kant s text reveals that he had something to say on many discussions that are said to have originated after his death. Reducing his argumentation to its central tenets, it can be made stronger and applicable to current problems. Kant s eventual concern, however, even when writing theoretical philosophy, lay with the practical. Elaborating this concern and its connection to Kant s theoretical philosophy is a prime tenet of this book."

Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason" is so outstanding among modern philosophical works, that it can be termed "the" foundation of modern philosophy. Schopenhauer termed it "the most important book ever to have been written in Europe." Otfried Hoffe guides the reader through the "Critique" one step at a time, expounding Kant's thoughts, submitting them to an interpretation and drawing a summary conclusion, placing the work and its topics within the context of its modern successors. A "critical" interpretation of Kant's text reveals that he had something to say on many discussions that are said to have originated after his death. Reducing his argumentation to its central tenets, it can be made stronger and applicable to current problems. Kant's eventual concern, however, even when writing theoretical philosophy, lay with the practical. Elaborating this concern and its connection to Kant's theoretical philosophy is a prime tenet of this book."

In 'Democracy in an Age of Globalisation', Otfried Hoffe develops a comprehensive analysis of the demands, which the process of globalization exerts on the political organisations of humanity.The author starts from a diagnosis of the process of globalisation and frees its concept from its economistic narrowing: Globalisation is a comprehensive process which puts new strains on the economies and political systems of the world, the cultural and social structures of peoples. The scope of its challenges demands solutions, which transcend the powers of the classical nation-state. The question central to the book can be formulated as follows: How can the social, moral and legal achievements of the nation-state be retained while its structure is reshaped to satisfy the requirements of a globalised world?"

In "Democracy in an Age of Globalisation," Otfried Hoffe develops a comprehensive analysis of the demands, which the process of globalization exerts on the political organisations of humanity.

The author starts from a diagnosis of the process of globalisation and frees its concept from its economistic narrowing: Globalisation is a comprehensive process which puts new strains on the economies and political systems of the world, the cultural and social structures of peoples. The scope of its challenges demands solutions, which transcend the powers of the classical nation-state. The question central to the book can be formulated as follows: "How can the social, moral and legal achievements of the nation-state be retained while its structure is reshaped to satisfy the requirements of a globalised world?"

Edmund Husserl, generally regarded as the founding figure of phenomenology, exerted an enormous influence on the course of twentieth and twenty-first century philosophy. This volume collects and translates essays written by important German-speaking commentators on Husserl, ranging from his contemporaries to scholars of today, to make available in English some of the best commentary on Husserl and the phenomenological project. The essays focus on three problematics within phenomenology: the nature and method of phenomenology; intentionality, with its attendant issues of temporality and subjectivity; and intersubjectivity and culture. Several essays also deal with Martin Heidegger's phenomenology, although in a manner that reveals not only Heidegger's differences with Husserl but also his reliance on and indebtedness to Husserl's phenomenology. Taken together, the book shows the continuing influence of Husserl's thought, demonstrating how such subsequent developments as existentialism, hermeneutics, and deconstruction were defined in part by how they assimilated and departed from Husserlian insights. The course of what has come to be called continental philosophy cannot be described without reference to this assimilation and departure, and among the many successor approaches phenomenology remains a viable avenue for contemporary thought. In addition, problems addressed by Husserl-most notably, intentionality, consciousness, the emotions, and ethics-are of central concern in contemporary non-phenomenological philosophy, and many contemporary thinkers have turned to Husserl for guidance. The essays demonstrate how significant Husserl remains to contemporary philosophy across several traditions and several generations. Includes essays by Rudolf Bernet, Klaus Held, Ludwig Landgrebe, Dieter Lohmar, Verena Mayer and Christopher Erhard, Ullrich Melle, Karl Mertens, Ernst Wolfgang Orth, Jan Patocka, Sonja Rinofner-Kreidl, Karl Schuhmann, and Elisabeth Stroeker.

Education signifies more than knowledge in the sense of knowing facts. Using epistemic resources from the history and the humanities, this book reveals the connections between various regulatory regimes and past formulations of the concept of education. The insights it offers focus on two current problem areas: education and society, and education and the educational system."

Die "Politik" des Aristoteles ist der Grundungstext der politischen Philosophie: die erste systematische Abhandlung uber den Staat, seine Verfassung und seine okonomischen Grundlagen. Nach einer Analyse des Begriffs der Herrschaft entfaltet Aristoteles die These, dass der Mensch von Natur aus ein politisches Lebewesen sei. Die staatliche Gemeinschaft wird als eine autarke Einheit verstanden, die das gute Leben ihrer Burger ermoglichen soll. In Auseinandersetzung mit anderen theoretischen Entwurfen und der Vielfalt bestehender staatlicher Ordnungen untersucht Aristoteles ein weites Themenspektrum, das von Burgertugenden und Gesetzen uber die Einrichtung, den Wandel und die Erhaltung von Verfassungen bis zum Entwurf eines Idealstaates reicht. Der kooperative Kommentar rekonstruiert in 12 Originalbeitragen die Argumentation des vielschichtigen Textes, bettet die zentralen Fragen in den historischen und systematischen Zusammenhang ein und fordert dazu heraus, die Aristotelischen Lehrstucke kritisch weiterzudenken. Mit Beitragen von: Dorothea Frede, Hans-Joachim Gehrke, Rolf Geiger, Otfried Hoffe, Richard Kraut, Fred D. Miller Jr., Richard Muligan, Ada Neschke-Hentschke, Pierre Pellegrim und Eckart Schuttrumpf

Wer auch immer sich fur eine Theorie moralischer bzw. humaner Praxis interessiert, findet in der "Nikomachischen Ethik" des Aristoteles eines der wenigen bis heute einschlagigen Grundmodelle. Im Mittelpunkt der ebenso nuchternen wie umsichtigen Analyse stehen u. a. die Begriffe Gluck, Tugend, Entscheidung, Klugheit, Unbeherrschtheit, Lust und Freundschaft. Die Aristotelischen Ausfuhrungen sind keineswegs nur von historischem Interesse, sondern uben auch auf die ethische Debatte der Gegenwart entscheidenden Einfluss aus. Die 13 Beitrage dieses Bandes legen in Form eines kooperativen Kommentars, dem Aufbau des Klassikerwerkes folgend, die Grundlagen der Aristotelischen Untersuchung ebenso dar wie den modernen Hintergrund ihrer Rezeption

Aristoteles Schrift "Uber die Dichtkunst" ("Peri poietikes") ist trotz ihrer Kurze einer der wirkungsmachtigsten Texte ihrer Art und fraglos das erste Werk, das seinem Gegenstand eine eigene Abhandlung widmet. Sie untersucht auf systematische Weise das Wesen der Dichtung und ihre Gattungen, vor allem die Tragodie, aber auch das Epos und, wenngleich knapp, die Komodie. Der aus einer Fulle von Erfahrungen gespeiste, an pragnanten Analysen reiche Text beeinflusste uber Jahrhunderte philosophische und literaturwissenschaftliche Debatten. Der hier vorgelegte kooperative Kommentar, verfasst von Philosophen, Altphilologen und Literaturwissenschaftlern, wendet sich an einen unbefangenen, von der verschlungenen Rezeptionsgeschichte unverdorbenen Leser. Fur ihn wird der Text mit seinen Begriffen, Behauptungen und deren Begrundung entschlusselt. Das Schlusskapitel wirft einen exemplarischen Blick in die Wirkungsgeschichte."

Bekannte Philosophen kommentieren in der Reihe "Klassiker Auslegen" die klassischen Texte der Philosophiegeschichte. Nietzsches "Zur Genealogie Moral" ist der Hohepunkt der abendlandischen Moralkritik. In einer erfrischenden Einfuhrung ordnet Otfried Hoffe den Text kulturgeschichtlich ein und stellt dessen Themen und Thesen vor. Anschliessend stellen ausgewiesene Nietzsche-Kenner die "Streitschrift" Kapitel fur Kapitel vor und zeigen Hintergrunde, die man nicht kennen kann oder die man leicht ubersieht."

In this book, Hoffe gives a clear, understandable description of Kant's philosophical development and influence, and he sets forth Kant's main ideas from the Critique of Pure Reason and the ethics to the philosophy of law, history, religion, and art. In his critical treatment, Hoffe shows why Kant's philosophy continues to be relevant and challenging to us today.

This collection brings together in translation the finest postwar German-language scholarship on Nietzsche's philosophy, ranging over his concept of irony, his thoughts on music, his relation to the pre-Socratics, his concept of truth, and numerous other topics. Many of the essays appear in English here for the first time, and all are newly translated for the volume.

This collection brings together in translation the finest postwar German-language scholarship on Nietzsche's philosophy, ranging over his concept of irony, his thoughts on music, his relation to the pre-Socratics, his concept of truth, and numerous other topics. Many of the essays appear in English here for the first time, and all are newly translated for the volume.

This volume brings to English readers the finest postwar German-language scholarship on Kant s moral and legal philosophy. Examining Kant s relation to predecessors such as Hutcheson, Wolff, and Baumgarten, it clarifies the central issues in each of Kant s major works in practical philosophy, including The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, The Critique of Practical Reason, and The Metaphysics of Morals. It also examines the relation of Kant s philosophy to politics. Collectively, the essays in this volume provide English readers with a direct view of how leading German philosophers are now regarding Kant s revolutionary practical philosophy, one of the outstanding achievements of German thought."

Die Theorie der Gerechtigkeit ist der wichtigste Beitrag des englischen Sprachraums zur politischen Ethik des 20. Jahrhunderts. Rawls entwirft hier nicht nur eine weithin uberzeugende Theorie zur Schnittmenge von Ethik und politischer Philosophie. Ihm gelingt es, in der Debatte eine Reihe von grundlegenden Paradigmenwechseln vorzunehmen. Nach einer Generation intensiver Diskussion zieht der Band Bilanz in Form eines kooperativen Kommentars."

This volume brings to English readers the finest postwar German-language scholarship on Kant's moral and legal philosophy. Examining Kant's relation to predecessors such as Hutcheson, Wolff, and Baumgarten, it clarifies the central issues in each of Kant's major works in practical philosophy, including The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, The Critique of Practical Reason, and The Metaphysics of Morals. It also examines the relation of Kant's philosophy to politics. Collectively, the essays in this volume provide English readers with a direct view of how leading German philosophers are now regarding Kant's revolutionary practical philosophy, one of the outstanding achievements of German thought.

This series makes available in English some important work by German philosophers on major figures in the German philosophical tradition. The volumes will provide critical perspectives on philosophers of great significance to the Anglo-American philosophical community, perspectives that have been largely ignored except by a handful of writers on German philosophy. The dissemination of this work will be of enormous value to Anglophone students and scholars of the history of German philosophy. This collection brings together in translation the finest post-war German language scholarship on Hegel's social and political philosophy, concentrating on the Elements of the Philosophy of Right. Many of the essays appear in English here for the first time; all are translated anew.