This book is based on an in-depth conversation between Howard Burton and Onora O’Neill, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and a crossbench member of the House of Lords. After intriguing insights into Onora O’Neill’s path to becoming a Kant scholar, this wide-ranging conversation explores how Kant’s philosophy is relevant for many thorny issues in our contemporary social world, from human rights to patient consent to corporate transparency and more.

This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, The Benefits of Struggling, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter:

1. A Circuitous Route - Philosophy via history, psychology and physiology


2. Becoming Philosophical - Towards Kant


3. The Categorical Imperative - And its complications


4. Human Rights - Duties and how to implement them


5. Implementation - Trust, trustworthiness and appreciating limits

About Ideas Roadshow Conversations Series (100 books):

Presented in an accessible, conversational format, Ideas Roadshow books not only explore frontline academic research featuring world-leading researchers, including 3 Nobel Laureates, but also reveal the inspirations and personal journeys behind the research. Howard Burton holds a PhD in physics and an MA in philosophy, and was the Founding Director of Canada’s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.