Law and Liberty. Immanuel Kant and James Madison on the Modern Polity

Abstract

The article relates Kant to the American Revolution by connecting his republicanism with the ingenious balancing of national and federal features in the constitution of the American republic, as envisioned and enacted by James Madison. Section 1 sets the stage by profiling Kant and Madison in historical and systematic terms. Section 2 traces the development of republicanism from its ancient origins to its modern variety. Section 3 reconstructs Kant's legalist republicanism in the twofold context of his philosophy of history and his philosophy of law. Section 4 portrays Madison as the leading theoretician of the modern federal republic.