Right and practical reason

Abstract

This paper contains arguments from Kant's philosophy of law. Firstly, it distinguishes between positive and natural right, the laws and reflections on what is justice respectively. We then analyze present law, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, practical reason which questions it, understanding practical as the critical process by means of which the agent exerts his own freedom. Afterwards, we examine public right as a means of legitimizing private right insofar as social contract mediates between them. Finally, Kant's theory and traditional liberalism are distinguished, Kant's social contract clarified and the Hegelian critic of Kant discussed.