Kant's Principles Of False Reasoning

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Kant lists three principles of false reasoning used by politicians in corrupting constitutions in order to make war:
- 1) “Seize every favorable opportunity for usurping the right of the state over its own people…Boldness itself gives the appearance of inner conviction of the legitimacy of the deed...”
- 2) “What you have committed, deny that is was your fault. . . if you have conquered a neighboring nation, say that the fault lies in the nature of man, who, if not met by force can be counted on to make use of force to attack you.”
- 3) “. . . if it is foreign states that concern you, it is a pretty safe means to sow discord among them so that, by seeming to protect the weaker, you can conquer them one after another.”

Finally, Kant argued strongly for the benefits of “transparency”. Any government decision or strategy that requires secrecy to succeed is by that fact an immoral and irrational decision or strategy: “All actions relating to the right of other men are unjust if their maxim is not consistent with publicity”. Rational, moral, just governments therefore do not need to hide their decisions and plans.
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President George W. Bush of the United States, for instance, in 2002, declared that new circumstances argue for the possible use of pre-emptive attacks; the right to strike a nation or group first to avoid attack by the enemy nation or group in the