Title and preface
Original German
Zum ewigen Frieden.
Ein philosophischer Entwurf von Immanuel Kant.
Neue vermehrte Auflage.
Königsberg, bey Friedrich Nicolovius. 1796.
Zum ewigen Frieden.
Ob diese satyrische Ueberschrift auf dem Schilde jenes holländischen Gastwirths, worauf ein Kirchhof gemahlt war, die Menschen überhaupt, oder besonders die Staatsoberhäupter, die des Krieges nie satt werden können, oder wohl gar nur die Philosophen gelte, die jenen süßen Traum träumen, mag dahin gestellt seyn. Das bedingt sich aber der Verfasser des Gegenwärtigen aus, daß, da der praktische Politiker mit dem theoretischen auf dem Fuß steht, mit großer Selbstgefälligkeit auf ihn als einen Schulweisen herabzusehen, der dem Staat, welcher von Erfahrungsgrundsätzen ausgehen müsse, mit seinen sachleeren Ideen keine Gefahr bringe, und den man immer seine eilf Kegel auf einmal werfen lassen kann, ohne, daß sich der weltkundige Staatsmann daran kehren darf, dieser auch, im Fall eines Streits mit jenem sofern consequent verfahren müsse, hinter seinen auf gut Glück gewagten, und öffentlich geäusserten Meynungen nicht Gefahr für den Staat zu wittern; — durch welche Clausula salvatoria der Verfasser dieses sich dann hiemit in der besten Form wider alle bösliche Auslegung ausdrücklich verwahrt wissen will.
Musean translation
Machine-assisted translation directly from Kant's complete German text of the expanded 1796 edition, including both supplements, both appendices and his notes. Source: Internet Archive, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek copy.
Toward Perpetual Peace.
A Philosophical Sketch by Immanuel Kant.
New, expanded edition.
Königsberg, published by Friedrich Nicolovius. 1796.
Toward Perpetual Peace.
Whether this satirical inscription on the sign of a Dutch innkeeper, which bore a painting of a graveyard, applies to human beings in general, or especially to heads of state who can never have enough of war, or perhaps only to the philosophers who dream that sweet dream, may remain an open question. The author of the present work does, however, make one reservation: since the practical politician regards the theoretical politician with great complacency as a mere academic whose insubstantial ideas pose no danger to a state that must proceed on principles drawn from experience, and whom he may always allow to knock down all eleven of his skittles at once without the worldly-wise statesman needing to take notice, the latter must also remain consistent in any dispute with him and not scent danger to the state behind opinions ventured at random and expressed in public. By this protective clause, the author hereby expressly safeguards himself, in due form, against every malicious interpretation.
Plain English translation
Independent machine-assisted translation directly from the complete German 1796 edition, including its supplements, appendices and author's notes.
Toward Perpetual Peace
A philosophical outline by Immanuel Kant.
New expanded edition.
Königsberg: Friedrich Nicolovius. 1796.
Toward Perpetual Peace
A Dutch innkeeper put this satirical heading on a sign painted with a graveyard. Who was it aimed at? Human beings in general? Heads of state in particular, who can never get enough of war? Or perhaps just the philosophers who dream that sweet dream? We can leave that question open. But the author of this work makes one condition. The practical politician treats the theoretical politician with smug contempt, as an armchair scholar. He thinks the scholar's empty ideas pose no danger to a state, which must base its actions on experience. They can always let him knock down all eleven pins at once without the worldly-wise statesman having to pay attention. So if the statesman gets into a dispute with him, he must be consistent. He must not sniff out a danger to the state behind the views the theorist has taken a chance on and expressed publicly. With this safeguard clause, the author expressly declares, in due form, that he is protected against any malicious interpretation.
About this section
Title and preface is part of Toward Perpetual Peace by Immanuel Kant. This page sets the German original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is part 1 of 10 in the work, which is kept in the European tradition.
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