Webster Vienna Private Univeristy

Nikola Blaskovic
10.03.2023.

Assignment

Project Gutenberg's Perpetual Peace, by Immanuel Kant and Mary Campbell Smith
Appendix I

When it comes to the topic of creating eternal peace, the first appendix of "Perpetual Peace"
written by Immanuel Kant, investigates the conflict that arises from the clash between moral
standards and political reality. As a remedy to this dilemma, Kant suggests a system of
republican administration and international collaboration that is directed by moral ideals. . In this
section, writer starts about by writing about morals, writer argues that morals are a practical
science in the objectivist sense since they are the sum of rules that demand unconditional
obedience. In addition to this, he is making the point that there is no room for contention
between politics, which is the applied science of right, and morality, which is also a science of
right but is more theoretical in nature; hence, theory and practice cannot be in direct opposition
to one another. Later on, writer is saying that in theory, there is no quarrel between morals and
politics. But subjectively, in the self-seeking tendencies of men (which we cannot actually call
their morality, as we would a course of action based on maxims of reason,) this disagreement in
principle exists and may always survive; for it serves as a whetstone to virtue. What strikes me as
particularly intriguing about what he has to say is that "Honesty is better than any policy," that it
is superior to any imaginable criticism, and that it is necessary for all aspects of politics. When it
comes to the topic of attaining a state of permanent peace, Kant concentrates on the examination
of the conflict that arises between the moral ideals and the political reality of the world. He
believes that even if moral principles may require that all persons have a responsibility to strive
for peace, political realities such as the desire of power and self-interest frequently lead to
conflict and war despite the fact that all individuals may have a duty to work toward peace. The
author explains how in this paragraph.

These politicians, rather than following through on their boasts of adopting an open and clear
method of doing business, involve themselves in intrigue. They get access to the authorities in
authority and say things that will make them happy; their entire intention is to sacrifice the
Webster Vienna Private Univeristy
Nikola Blaskovic
10.03.2023.
country, or even, if they can, the whole planet, with the single goal of advancing their own
personal

interests. I am able to say that I really like how the writer said this because he is telling the
complete truth, it is not only politicians but many other people who would give the whole planet
in order to pursue their own interest, and as long as people continue to think in this way, our
society will not get any better; in fact, it could get even worse. In other words, we may deduce
from this line that the author believes that the resolution to this conflict resides in the creation of
a political system that is aligned with moral values, as opposed to compromising or abandoning
moral standards in order to achieve political benefit. He advocates a form of government known
as republicanism, in which the people have a say in the process of decision-making and are led
by moral values rather than self-interest. Also, he is arguing on how the political moralist starts
where the moral politician should correctly stop and how, by placing the cart before the horse or
subordinating principles to a goal, he defeats his purpose of bringing politics into harmony with
morality. In point of fact, the political moralist may say that a ruler and people, or nation and
nation, do not do one another any wrong when they enter into a war with violence or cunning,
despite the fact that they do wrong, generally speaking, in refusing to respect the concept of
right, which is the only thing that could ever truly establish peace for all time. Kant addresses
the subject of the function that international relations have in the maintenance of lasting peace.
He suggests the formation of a confederation of free states, in which countries would cooperate
with one another to foster peace and find peaceful resolutions to crises. Because of this, the
moral principle that is inherent in people never dies out, and human reason, which is suited for
the practical realization of ideas of right in accordance with that principle, grows continually in
fitness for the purpose of doing so with the ever-advancing march of culture; however, it is
important to note that the guilt associated with transgression also grows at the same time. In the
end, he is arguing that right must be revered by man, regardless of how high the price and how
much must be given up to the dominant authority. There is no course that is a mix of both of
these. We are unable to design a solution that strikes a balance between doing what is right and
doing what is expedient, a right that is pragmatically conditioned. Yet all politics must curtsey to
the concept of justice in order to have any chance of climbing to a level from which it may shine
Webster Vienna Private Univeristy
Nikola Blaskovic
10.03.2023.
upon mankind for all of time. This may be a lengthy process, but it is the only way to achieve
this goal.