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| Aaron Vance Class of 2017 |
This past college semester has introduced me to new
folds of academia and political philosophy, but perhaps, most importantly, directed me to deeper understanding of
the philosophical underpinnings responsible for our current system of
international relations. Through my
study of the current world system, the problems it faces, and the history of
its development, I have unraveled the arguments of leading academics such as Samuel Huntington and Alexander Wendt and even considered the works of anthropologist Scott Atran. But, here, I turn narrowly to Thomas C. Walker’s piece, Two Faces of Liberalism: Kant, Paine, and
the Question of Intervention.
Walker’s piece draws comparisons between Thomas Paine and Immanuel Kant, highlighting how each considers the role of human nature and political intervention. Paine, the liberal stalwart and proclaimed founding father of liberalism, would become commonplace within curricula, propaganda, and the sentiments of free society. But the less fiery, more reserved, and seemingly more rationale Kant would go to the wayside, at least in my developing studies of political science. Paine, obviously more circulated and the literary cult of personality of the American Revolution, appeared in my textbooks as early as third grade, while Kant was nowhere to be found.
Kant’s contributions to philosophy, metaphysics, anthropology, sociology, and political science have been profound. Structuralism and its impacts sparked sociology; his delineations on the study of humans produced the foundry of modern anthropology; his ideas on trade echo in the economic works of Friedman; and, as seen in Walker’s article, his understandings of sovereignty and democratization have made a resurgence in the works of modern academics.
Kant is certainly not a forgotten academic, but the full impact of his political philosophy seems to have become subverted in modern politics. The impact of society on the actions of any person is crucial in its collective form. Maybe I am nothing more than a gawking American who is dabbling in international relations. Considering the influence of Kant on our own American framers - particularly James Madison - I submit that amidst the challenges of absolutes truths and relative norms a new wave of scholarship needs to be considered in modern international studies - one that recognizes the impact of structure, agency, and the philosophy of Kant.
Walker’s piece draws comparisons between Thomas Paine and Immanuel Kant, highlighting how each considers the role of human nature and political intervention. Paine, the liberal stalwart and proclaimed founding father of liberalism, would become commonplace within curricula, propaganda, and the sentiments of free society. But the less fiery, more reserved, and seemingly more rationale Kant would go to the wayside, at least in my developing studies of political science. Paine, obviously more circulated and the literary cult of personality of the American Revolution, appeared in my textbooks as early as third grade, while Kant was nowhere to be found.
Kant’s contributions to philosophy, metaphysics, anthropology, sociology, and political science have been profound. Structuralism and its impacts sparked sociology; his delineations on the study of humans produced the foundry of modern anthropology; his ideas on trade echo in the economic works of Friedman; and, as seen in Walker’s article, his understandings of sovereignty and democratization have made a resurgence in the works of modern academics.
Kant is certainly not a forgotten academic, but the full impact of his political philosophy seems to have become subverted in modern politics. The impact of society on the actions of any person is crucial in its collective form. Maybe I am nothing more than a gawking American who is dabbling in international relations. Considering the influence of Kant on our own American framers - particularly James Madison - I submit that amidst the challenges of absolutes truths and relative norms a new wave of scholarship needs to be considered in modern international studies - one that recognizes the impact of structure, agency, and the philosophy of Kant.
Aaron Vance is a sophomore McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville. He studies political science and anthropology.