Abstract

In his doctrine of right, Kant sketched out the image of a state that secures the freedom and property of its citizens, but excludes questions of the distribution of goods. Therefore, following his basic ideas, attempts are made to incorporate socially balancing mechanisms into the theory of property. By means of some typical argumentation approaches, it is shown which paths to solve the social question are taken by Kant’s interpreters and which are closed according to the internal structural principles of Kant’s legal doctrine. With a view to Kant’s preliminary work, the concept of freedom is expanded to include a positive component of opportunities for freedom and distributive justice is interpreted as an inclusive economic, social and societal system of participatory justice.