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Full Idea
The highest task which nature has set mankind is to establish a society in which freedom under external laws would be combined to the greatest possible extent with irresistible force, in other words of establishing a perfectly just constitution.
Gist of Idea
Our aim is a constitution which combines maximum freedom with strong restraint
Source
Immanuel Kant (Idea for a Universal History [1784], 5th)
Book Ref
Kant,Immanuel: 'Political Writings', ed/tr. Reiss,Hans [CUP 1996], p.45
A Reaction
The 'force' is to restrict the harms that may result from individual freedom. This seems to equate justice with liberal freedom. Force can prevent direct harm to others, but what to do about indirect harm? Many lack freedom, but whose fault is it?
| 21053 | The manifest will in the world of phenomena has to conform to the laws of nature [Kant] |
| 21054 | Reason enables the unbounded extension of our rules and intentions [Kant] |
| 21055 | Our aim is a constitution which combines maximum freedom with strong restraint [Kant] |
| 21056 | The vitality of business needs maximum freedom (while avoiding harm to others) [Kant] |
| 21057 | The highest ideal of social progress is a universal cosmopolitan existence [Kant] |