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Thinking with Kleist: Michael Kohlhaas and moral luck

Publication ,  Journal Article
Pickford, H
Published in: German Quarterly
October 1, 2013

The concept of moral luck comprises four aspects of acts of the Kantian will that are beyond the control of the agent and yet, paradoxically, can affect her moral appraisal. The challenge posed to Kantian moral theory by moral luck was identified by Schleiermacher in his critical review of Kant's Anthropologie in pragmatischer Hinsicht, and evidence suggests that Kleist was familiar with Kant's relevant writings while composing Michael Kohlhaas, a novella in which the various kinds of moral luck play a significant role. I extend the concept of moral luck by discussing two further versions of it in the novella, which I call interpretive moral luck and - drawing on Max Weber - proxy moral luck. In tracing these categories, I show how Kleist dramatized paradoxical consequences of Kant's theory that Kant himself acknowledged. Lastly, I interpret the secondary narrative of the gypsy woman and her prophecy as a further critique of Kantian morality. © 2013, American Association of Teachers of German.

Duke Scholars

Published In

German Quarterly

DOI

EISSN

1756-1183

ISSN

0016-8831

Publication Date

October 1, 2013

Volume

86

Issue

4

Start / End Page

381 / 403

Related Subject Headings

  • 4705 Literary studies
  • 2005 Literary Studies
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Pickford, H. (2013). Thinking with Kleist: Michael Kohlhaas and moral luck. German Quarterly, 86(4), 381–403. https://doi.org/10.1111/gequ.10188
Pickford, H. “Thinking with Kleist: Michael Kohlhaas and moral luck.” German Quarterly 86, no. 4 (October 1, 2013): 381–403. https://doi.org/10.1111/gequ.10188.
Pickford H. Thinking with Kleist: Michael Kohlhaas and moral luck. German Quarterly. 2013 Oct 1;86(4):381–403.
Pickford, H. “Thinking with Kleist: Michael Kohlhaas and moral luck.” German Quarterly, vol. 86, no. 4, Oct. 2013, pp. 381–403. Scopus, doi:10.1111/gequ.10188.
Pickford H. Thinking with Kleist: Michael Kohlhaas and moral luck. German Quarterly. 2013 Oct 1;86(4):381–403.
Journal cover image

Published In

German Quarterly

DOI

EISSN

1756-1183

ISSN

0016-8831

Publication Date

October 1, 2013

Volume

86

Issue

4

Start / End Page

381 / 403

Related Subject Headings

  • 4705 Literary studies
  • 2005 Literary Studies