KANT (Immanuel).
Zum ewigen Frieden. Ein philosophischer Entwurf.
The correct first issue of Kant’s celebrated essay on Perpetual Peace. “The basis of practical pacifism is contained in Zum ewigen Frieden, 1795, which contains an outline of a world league of nations” (PMM). “It is unique among Kant’s writings in that it was written for a wide public, and that its publication can be regarded as a political act” (Gallie, Philosophers of Peace and War, p. 8).
The book was an immediate success, with the first edition selling out within a few weeks, quickly prompting a series of translations and counterfeit editions. The correct first edition, first issue is identifiable by the uppercase catchword ‘Welt’ on p. 3, rather than the lowercase ‘welt’ seen in the second issue. Nicolovius then published a second, revised edition in the following year, slightly extended from 104 to 112 pages by the addition of a second appendix.
Warda, 154.
