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Single Idea 21072

[filed under theme 25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 1. War / a. Just wars ]

Full Idea

Each state must be organised so that the head of state, for whom the war costs nothing (for he wages it at the expense of the people) must no longer have the deciding vote on whether war is to be declared or not, for the people who pay for it must decide.

Gist of Idea

The people (who have to fight) and not the head of state should declare a war

Source

Immanuel Kant (True in Theory, but not in Practice [1792], 3)

Book Ref

Kant,Immanuel: 'Political Writings', ed/tr. Reiss,Hans [CUP 1996], p.90

A Reaction

I would guess that he has Louis XIV particularly in mind. Imagine if Kant's proposal had been implemented in 1914. A referendum takes ages, and the people would need the facts (from the intelligence agencies).

The 14 ideas from 'True in Theory, but not in Practice'

21060 It can't be a duty to strive after the impossible [Kant]
21059 General rules of action also need a judgement about when to apply them [Kant]
21061 Duty does not aim at an end, but gives rise to universal happiness as aim of the will [Kant]
21062 The will's motive is the absolute law itself, and moral feeling is receptivity to law [Kant]
21064 A lawful civil state must embody freedom, equality and independence for its members [Kant]
21063 Personal contracts are for some end, but a civil state contract involves a duty to share [Kant]
21066 Citizens can rise to any rank that talent, effort and luck can achieve [Kant]
21065 You can't make a contract renouncing your right to make contracts! [Kant]
21068 There must be a unanimous contract that citizens accept majority decisions [Kant]
21067 A citizen must control his own life, and possess property or an important skill [Kant]
21069 A contract is theoretical, but it can guide rulers to make laws which the whole people will accept [Kant]
21071 There can be no restraints on freedom if reason does not reveal some basic rights [Kant]
21070 A law is unjust if the whole people could not possibly agree to it [Kant]
21072 The people (who have to fight) and not the head of state should declare a war [Kant]