University of Zanjan Philosophical Meditations 2228-5253 Articles in Press 2025 04 15 The Relationship between Right and Ethics in Kant's View “From the Doctrine of Right and External Coercion to the Doctrine of Virtue and Internal Constraint” The Relationship between Right and Ethics in Kant's View “From the Doctrine of Right and External Coercion to the Doctrine of Virtue and Internal Constraint” 722768 10.30470/phm.2025.2050133.2630 FA Seyed Mohammad Hosseini Ph.D. Student, Public Law, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran. 0000-0003-0089-6209 Hassan Vakilian Associate Professor, Department of Public International Law, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran 0000-0003-3453-8354 Journal Article 2025 01 07 A comprehensive framework called “ethics” is divided into two parts: “ethics” (also referred to as the “doctrine of virtue”) and “right/justice” (also known as the “doctrine of right”). In The Metaphysics of Morals, Kant argues that the “categorical imperative” determines the duties and obligations of moral agents. These obligations, or constraints, can be categorized as either internal, as in the “duties of virtue,” where “motive” or “incentive” is significant, or external, as in the “duties of right/justice,” where such motives are irrelevant. In both cases, the “categorical imperative” establishes these moral constraints. According to Kant, duties related to ethics, or virtue, are internal and cannot be externally enforced, unlike the “duties of right/justice.” The “duties of virtue” are concerned with moral law and the internal constraints of the agent(s), whereas “juridical” or “legal duties,” which correspond to the duties based on “right/justice,” relate to the external actions of moral agents and are subject to external constraints, particularly legal restrictions. A comprehensive framework called “ethics” is divided into two parts: “ethics” (also referred to as the “doctrine of virtue”) and “right/justice” (also known as the “doctrine of right”). In The Metaphysics of Morals, Kant argues that the “categorical imperative” determines the duties and obligations of moral agents. These obligations, or constraints, can be categorized as either internal, as in the “duties of virtue,” where “motive” or “incentive” is significant, or external, as in the “duties of right/justice,” where such motives are irrelevant. In both cases, the “categorical imperative” establishes these moral constraints. According to Kant, duties related to ethics, or virtue, are internal and cannot be externally enforced, unlike the “duties of right/justice.” The “duties of virtue” are concerned with moral law and the internal constraints of the agent(s), whereas “juridical” or “legal duties,” which correspond to the duties based on “right/justice,” relate to the external actions of moral agents and are subject to external constraints, particularly legal restrictions.