Logic, Agency, and Practice: A Review of Recent Scholarship on Kantian Ethics

Abstract

Critiques contend that Kant’s Categorical Imperative amounts to “empty formalism”, a system devoid of content that proves insufficient for navigating the practical contingencies of moral life. However, recent scholarship suggests that Kant’s ideas remain relevant and should not yet be dismissed. Scholars vigorously argue that his theory remains a sturdy, necessary scaffolding for modern ethics. This review examines that literature to assess how the theory holds up across three specific areas: logic, agency, and practice. First, the theoretical foundation is examined to address the debate about a logical gap in Kant’s derivation. The argument here is that the moral law is not derived arbitrarily; it is derived a priori as a necessary condition of freedom, meaning practical reason comes pre-loaded with ideals that naturally orient us toward universalisability. Next, the focus shifts to the moral agent. Contemporary scholars are reframing ethics less as rigid commandments and more as a project of “practical identity” and “moral perfection”, where duty is experienced as inner restraint or a “feeling of respect”. Finally, these formulas are tested against real-world issues including technology, historical racism, and public policy. Ultimately, the suggestion is that the Categorical Imperative is not an obsolete philosophical relic; it is a living analytical tool that protects human dignity from the excesses of utilitarianism and the corrosive effects of modern moral relativism.