Summary
This is the first in a series of articles dedicated to applying political philosophy to relevant political topics. This article applies Kant's theory of perpetual peace to some of the worlds ongoing conflicts.
The ongoing Ukraine-Russia war and the recent Gaza ceasefire have made one thing clear: issues of war and peace are just as relevant today as they were in the seventeen-nineties.
Immanuel Kant, an eighteenth-century Prussian philosopher best known for his work in epistemology (the theory of knowledge) and ethics, turned his attention to the question of peace. Kant’s 1795 essay Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch provides ideas that still hold value in understanding challenges in pursuing peace.
Kant is well-known for his dense philosophical works, such as The Critique of Pure Reason (1781) which examines theories of human knowledge (epistemology). Another is his ethical theory of deontology, also known as Kantian ethics. This ethical approach is based on the idea of duty and strict moral principles, summed up in what Kant called the “categorical imperative”.
In simple terms, Kant argued that we should act only in ways that we could wish to become universal laws. For example, the principle that lying is always wrong.
Proposals for peace
In Perpetual Peace, Kant laid out a plan for creating a world without war. Kant began by setting a series of preliminary articles aimed at preventing the common causes of conflict.
These prevention articles include banning secret treaties, ending the build-up of armies, and preventing nations from using national debts to finance wars.
Kant also introduced “definitive articles” that outlined long-term solutions for peace. Firstly, states should be republican. In Kant’s context, republicanism meant a government where laws are made by elected representatives and where power is separated to prevent despotism.
Kant believed such systems were less likely to wage war, as the citizens (who bear the costs of war) would be reluctant to support it. This idea anticipated modern theories suggesting that democracies are generally less likely to fight each other.
Another of Kant’s key ideas was the creation of a federation of free states. Rather than advocating for a single world government, which he thought would be prone to corruption and abuse, Kant suggested a voluntary League of Nations.
This would respect the independence of its members while promoting cooperation and peaceful conflict resolution. This concept foreshadowed international organisations like the United Nations.
Lastly, Kant introduced the principle of cosmopolitanism. This idea focused on the rights of individuals, arguing that everyone should have the right to visit other countries peacefully. It reflects an early recognition of global interconnectedness and the need for universal respect between people and nations.
While some have criticised Kant’s political philosophy for being incomplete and or idealistic, it remains relevant because of its clear focus on peace.
In a world perpetually divided by conflict, his ideas serve as a reminder that true peace requires cooperation, fairness, and respect for universal principles of justice.
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I am a third-year Politics and Journalism Studies student at the University of Stirling (2022-) and a writer and sub-editor for the Brig for over a year (Nov. 2023-), focusing mainly on political topics.
