What Immanuel Kant thinks about democracy

@immanuel-kant · 26 positions · On ppll ↗

German philosopher (1724 to 1804), born in Königsberg, where he taught at the university; author of the three Critiques and the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals.

Immanuel Kant did not write this page.

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Only Immanuel Kant on democracy. See everyone on democracy

2 dated positions, c. 1795, in their own words. Our reading of what Immanuel Kant has said — not written or endorsed by them.

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1. c. 1795

   Our readingWhen citizens must consent to war, they will weigh it carefully before starting it

   Their wordsIf, as must be so under this constitution, the consent of the subjects is required to determine whether there shall be war or not, nothing is more natural than that they should weigh the matter well, before undertaking such a bad business.

   ↗Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Essay (1795; M. Campbell Smith translation)gutenberg.org All 18 from this book

3. c. 1795

   Our readingDemocracy in the proper sense is necessarily a form of despotism

   Their wordsOf these three forms of a state, democracy, in the proper sense of the word, is of necessity despotism, because it establishes an executive power, since all decree regarding—and, if need be, against—any individual who dissents from them.

   ↗Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Essay (1795; M. Campbell Smith translation)gutenberg.org All 18 from this book