Baumgarten's Elements of First Practical Philosophy

This book presents the first English translation of Alexander Baumgarten's Initia Philosophiae Practicae Primae, the textbook Kant used in his lectures on moral philosophy.

Originally published in Latin in 1760, the Initia contains a systematic, but original version of the universal practical philosophy first articulated by Christian Wolff. In his personal copy, Kant penned hundreds of pages of notes and sketches that document his relation to this earlier tradition. Translating these extensive elucidations into English, together with Kant's notes on the text, this translation offers a complete resource to Kant's reading of the Initia. To facilitate further study, first-time translations of elucidatory passages from G. F. Meier and Wolff are also included, alongside a German-English-Latin glossary. The translators' introduction provides a biography of Baumgarten, a discussion of the importance of the Initia, its relation to Wolff's and Meier's universal practical philosophy and its role in Kant's lectures.

By shedding new light on the arguments of Kant's mature works and offering insights into his pre-Critical moral thought, Elements of First Practical Philosophy reveals why Baumgarten's work is essential for understanding the background to Kant's philosophy.

Aceasta carte prezinta prima traducere in limba engleza a Initia Philosophiae Practicae Primae a lui Alexander Baumgarten, manualul pe care Kant l-a folosit in prelegerile sale despre filosofia morala. Initial publicat in latina in 1760, Initia contine o versiune sistematica, dar originala, a filosofiei practice universale articulata pentru prima data de Christian Wolff. In copia sa personala, Kant a scris sute de pagini de note si schite care documenteaza relatia sa cu aceasta traditie anterioara.