Kant’s Toward Perpetual Peace
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Reading and Writing Workshop
Toward Perpetual Peace: Reading Kant and Reflecting on the Possibility of Global Harmony
Workshop Overview:
In this workshop, students will explore the key ideas of Immanuel Kant’s Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch (1795), analyzing its proposals for achieving lasting peace among nations. Through guided readings, discussions, and writing tasks, participants will evaluate Kant’s arguments in historical and philosophical context, connect them to Enlightenment ideals, and examine their relevance today.
Sessions Outline:
Session 1: Introduction to Kant and the Idea of Peace
Focus: Understanding Kant’s life, Enlightenment ideals, and the historical context of Perpetual Peace.
Session 2: The Preliminary Articles for Peace
Focus: Analyzing the first section of Kant’s essay – the steps to end war immediately.
Session 3: The Definitive Articles and Republican Constitutions
Focus: Exploring Kant’s claim that republics are most conducive to peace.
Session 4: Cosmopolitan Right and Hospitality
Focus: Examining Kant’s concept of global citizenship and rights across borders.
Session 5: Secret Article, Morality, and Political Deception
Focus: Delving into Kant’s view on morality in politics and the role of public truth.
Session 6: Kant’s Legacy and the United Nations
Focus: Tracing Kant’s influence on later ideas of international governance.
Session 7: Writing for Peace – Final Essay and Reflection
Focus: Synthesis of ideas and application to present-day issues.
Final Project:
Compile all writings into a portfolio titled “Reflections on Perpetual Peace”, including:
Workshop Overview:
In this workshop, students will explore the key ideas of Immanuel Kant’s Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch (1795), analyzing its proposals for achieving lasting peace among nations. Through guided readings, discussions, and writing tasks, participants will evaluate Kant’s arguments in historical and philosophical context, connect them to Enlightenment ideals, and examine their relevance today.
Sessions Outline:
Session 1: Introduction to Kant and the Idea of Peace
Focus: Understanding Kant’s life, Enlightenment ideals, and the historical context of Perpetual Peace.
- Primary Reading:
Kant, Immanuel. Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch (Introduction)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50922 - Supplementary Reading:
Voltaire – Philosophical Dictionary (selected entries on war, peace, and reason)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19380 - Writing Task:
Reflective writing – "What does 'peace' mean in a philosophical sense? How might Enlightenment thinkers define or pursue peace?"
Session 2: The Preliminary Articles for Peace
Focus: Analyzing the first section of Kant’s essay – the steps to end war immediately.
- Primary Reading:
Kant, Perpetual Peace, Preliminary Articles
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50922 - Comparative Reading:
Rousseau – The Social Contract (Book I)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46333 - Writing Task:
Argumentative paragraph – "Are Kant’s preliminary articles still viable in modern geopolitics? Why or why not?"
Session 3: The Definitive Articles and Republican Constitutions
Focus: Exploring Kant’s claim that republics are most conducive to peace.
- Primary Reading:
Kant, Perpetual Peace, Definitive Articles
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50922 - Comparative Reading:
Montesquieu – The Spirit of the Laws (Book XI – separation of powers)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27501 - Writing Task:
Persuasive writing – "Does a republican form of government inherently promote peace? Support your view with examples."
Session 4: Cosmopolitan Right and Hospitality
Focus: Examining Kant’s concept of global citizenship and rights across borders.
- Primary Reading:
Kant, Perpetual Peace, Third Definitive Article and the discussion on cosmopolitanism
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50922 - Comparative Reading:
Cicero – On Duties (Book I, on justice and duty to humanity)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54101 - Writing Task:
Philosophical dialogue – Write a short, imagined conversation between Kant and a modern political refugee about cosmopolitan rights.
Session 5: Secret Article, Morality, and Political Deception
Focus: Delving into Kant’s view on morality in politics and the role of public truth.
- Primary Reading:
Kant, Perpetual Peace, including the Secret Article
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50922 - Comparative Reading:
Machiavelli – The Prince (Chapters 15–18 on political ethics and deceit)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1232 - Writing Task:
Compare and contrast essay – "Machiavelli vs. Kant: Can politics be both effective and moral?"
Session 6: Kant’s Legacy and the United Nations
Focus: Tracing Kant’s influence on later ideas of international governance.
- Reading:
Kant, Perpetual Peace, concluding remarks
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50922 - Supplementary Text:
The Covenant of the League of Nations (1919)
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/leagcov.asp - Writing Task:
Research-based essay – "To what extent did Kant’s ideas shape the structure and mission of the United Nations?"
Session 7: Writing for Peace – Final Essay and Reflection
Focus: Synthesis of ideas and application to present-day issues.
- Writing Task:
Final Essay Prompt – Choose one of Kant’s core ideas in Perpetual Peace and evaluate its relevance today. Incorporate at least one historical and one modern example. - Optional Reading:
Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” speech (1918)
https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=62&page=transcript
Final Project:
Compile all writings into a portfolio titled “Reflections on Perpetual Peace”, including:
- A short introduction on what you learned about Kant.
- Your reflections and argument writings from each session.
- Your final essay.