This isΒ Volume XIIΒ in the Complete Works of Immanuel Kant published byΒ LP
This is not to be confused with his early 1785 workΒ Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, which is a different book.
In keeping with the grounded, practical themes of his later works, the metaphysician of PrussiaΒsΒ Die Metaphysik der SittenΒ focuses on law, government regulation and virtue. Law is the inevitable end of Reason, and as such, is rooted inΒ a prioriΒ principles native to the soul but not external experience, in other words, metaphysical. The imperative of virtue relies on inner compulsion, while the imperative of legality relies on an external compulsion. In his lifelong rage against the Empiricism of David Hume, Kant here builds a positive framework devoid of polemics. KantΒs ΒDoctrine of RightΒ would inspire HegelΒs 1820 Philosophy of Right, where he would develop a more robust legal theory and a more restrictive social contract.