Sovereignty, criticism of expansionism and peace in Kant

Abstract

The aim is to address Kant's concept of the State and sovereignty and their implications for both criticism of state expansionism and its defense of peace as a legal imperative. This study examines, above all, the third and fifth preliminary articles of *Towards Perpetual Peace* (1795) and paragraphs 57 and 58 of *The Metaphysics of Morals* (1797). It argues that Kant bases his exposition on a priori jurisphilosophical principles, conceiving of the State and its sovereignty, based on the original contract, not as a thing but as a society of human beings, as a moral person. This also underlies the rejection of wars of extermination and subjugation, as they would imply moral annihilation, since they result in the fusion of the vanquished people with the victor or in their enslavement. Furthermore, the aim is to clarify the contrast between this view of the Prussian philosopher and peace treaties, which, from a practical standpoint, were often established based on the exigencies of circumstances and the interests at stake, yet were ineffective in promoting lasting peace. It should be demonstrated that this critique is intertwined with Kant's reformist stance, which, in turn, is related to his defense of ongoing human progress, which needs to be encouraged, considering its importance for the internal and external improvement of the state.