Kant's Gesammelte Schriften. Band V. Kritik Der Praktischen Vernunft.

A philosophical treatise written in the late 18th century. The work primarily focuses on the nature of practical reason and morality, examining the capacities and limitations of human will and the role of freedom in ethical decision-making. Kant seeks to delineate the concepts surrounding moral law and the principles that govern rational action, establishing a foundation for moral philosophy. The opening of the treatise introduces the idea that this work critiques practical reason itself, rather than just ''pure'' practical reason, to affirm the existence and importance of freedom in moral decision-making. Kant argues that while human beings are often swayed by empirical motives and desires, reason must ultimately govern one's will. He emphasizes that practical laws arise not from mere subjective maxims but from objective moral principles that can be rightly acknowledged by all rational beings. This foundational concept paves the way for exploring how moral imperatives should guide human action, setting a critical framework for the subsequent analysis of ethical obligations and the nature of freedom.