the few passages in which Kant deals with American independence make clear that he recognized the exceptional nature of this event. Kant’s legal, political and historical thought must be read taking into account the context of late 18th century Europe. Nonetheless, the American example supported, by contrast, his perspective on European republicanism and, more broadly, on the path of mankind towards increased protection of individual rights and the construction of lasting peace. US independence should not be thought of as an outcome of revolution, but as the founding of a State, offering a new relation between noumenal and phenomenal republicanism, and thus not suitable to the European experience. Two paths reconciled under an overall perspective on the human progress.
Silvestrini, F. (2023). RETHINKING THE AMERICAN EXCEPTION: KANT’S REPUBLICANISM AND THE FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED STATES. POLITICA.EU, IX(2), 32-60.
RETHINKING THE AMERICAN EXCEPTION: KANT’S REPUBLICANISM AND THE FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED STATES
Flavio Silvestrini
2023-01-01
Abstract
the few passages in which Kant deals with American independence make clear that he recognized the exceptional nature of this event. Kant’s legal, political and historical thought must be read taking into account the context of late 18th century Europe. Nonetheless, the American example supported, by contrast, his perspective on European republicanism and, more broadly, on the path of mankind towards increased protection of individual rights and the construction of lasting peace. US independence should not be thought of as an outcome of revolution, but as the founding of a State, offering a new relation between noumenal and phenomenal republicanism, and thus not suitable to the European experience. Two paths reconciled under an overall perspective on the human progress.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
