Citing any source is a critical aspect of academic writing. It not only acknowledges the author’s contribution but also helps readers to trace the origin of the ideas presented in the text.
One such important source in the field of philosophy is Immanuel Kant’s ‘Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals.’ In this article, we will discuss how to cite this work in your academic writing.
APA Citation Style
The American Psychological Association (APA) citation style is widely used across various disciplines, including philosophy. The citation for Kant’s ‘Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals’ in APA style is as follows:
- In-text citation: (Kant, 1785/1990)
- Reference list: Kant, I. (1990).
Foundations of the metaphysics of morals. (L. W. Beck, Trans.). Macmillan.
In the in-text citation, include only the last name of the author and the year of publication. Since Kant’s work was originally published in 1785 and has been translated into English by Lewis White Beck in 1990, it is essential to include both dates.
The reference list entry includes all necessary information about the source cited in-text. It starts with the author’s last name followed by their initials and publication date within parentheses. Then comes the title of the book italicized and capitalized sentence case, followed by its translator’s name if applicable.
MLA Citation Style
The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style is another commonly used style for citing sources in humanities disciplines like philosophy. The MLA citation for Kant’s ‘Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals’ is as follows:
- In-text citation: (Kant 50)
- Works Cited: Kant, Immanuel. Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals. Edited by Lewis White Beck, translated by Lewis White Beck, Library of Liberal Arts, 1959.
In MLA style, in-text citations include only the author’s last name and page number(s) where the cited information can be found. The corresponding entry on the Works Cited page includes the author’s full name, title of the book italicized in title case, editor’s name if applicable, publication information like publisher and year.
Chicago Citation Style
The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is another commonly used citation style that is prevalent in philosophy. The citation for Kant’s ‘Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals’ in CMS is as follows:
- In-text citation: (Kant 1990)
- Bibliography: Kant, Immanuel. Translated by Lewis White Beck. Macmillan Publishing Company, 1990.
In CMS style, in-text citations include only the author’s last name and publication date separated by a comma. The corresponding entry on the bibliography page includes author’s full name, title of work italicized and capitalized headline-style (not sentence case), translator’s name if applicable along with publication information.
Citing Specific Editions or Translations
It is important to note that various editions or translations may exist for a single work like Kant’s ‘Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals.’ Therefore it is always better to specify which edition or translation you are using in your citation. This helps in avoiding confusion and ensures accuracy.
In conclusion, correctly citing Kant’s ‘Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals’ is crucial for any academic writing in philosophy. Remember to follow the appropriate citation style guidelines and include all necessary information about the source cited.