Immanuel Kant

The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics Immanuel Kant

The Metaphysical Elements of Ethics (1780) In ancient times, ethics signified moral philosophy generally, a doctrine of duties. Subsequently it was found advisable to confine this to a part of moral philosophy, namely, to the doctrine of duties, which are not subject to external laws. Thus the system of general deontology is divided into that of jurisprudence, capable of external laws, and of ethics, which is incapable of external laws.