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Duties To Oneself. Immanuel Kant (1724 - 1804). Biographical Info. Born in Konigsberg, Prussia - now Kalingrad, Russia, near Sweden. Kant lectured at the University of Konisgsberg in mathemathics, logic, geography, history, & philosophy.
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Duties To Oneself Immanuel Kant (1724 - 1804)
Biographical Info • Born in Konigsberg, Prussia - now Kalingrad, Russia, near Sweden. • Kant lectured at the University of Konisgsberg in mathemathics, logic, geography, history, & philosophy. • One can literally follow in his footsteps today on “Philosopher’s Walk,” the path he traveled daily in contemplation and exercise.
Individual Morality • Kant was eager to describe ethics as not only our duty to others, but primarily to ourselves as well. • Since we are free beings, we have to self-limit in order to protect ourselves from ourselves - in the process we protect others as well.
Individual Morality, continued • We should act in a way that allows us the fullest freedom/control at all times. • In Kant’s system, any act which incapacitates our ability to do so is wrong: this includes drinking or eating in excess, anger, theft, etc.
Proper Self Respect • It is both our right and our responsibility to consider ourselves equals to everyone else: neither better nor worse, but equal - this limits transgressions against and by the Self. • If we feel we are lacking, it should always be in terms of failing to protect ourselves from ourselves, never in comparing ourselves to others.
Self Mastery • We accomplish this choice to remain balanced with the world, what Kant calls Self Mastery, through 3 processes: • Self-Scrutiny • Self-Perfection • Self-Observation
Self-Scrutiny • This involves taking a close look at our priorities, and doing away with those priorities that are selfish. • By checking with ourselves on a daily basis to root out selfish motives, we begin to arrive at Self Mastery.
Self-Perfection • We must also develop a healthy mind and body: the state of our body affects the mind, which influences our thinking, which defines our actions. • Striving for perfection of body translates to a perfection of conduct: base, fleeting pleasures should be traded for those which result in long term benefits.
Self-Observation • This involves taking a close look at our actions on a daily basis, and their cause: good intentions that protect the self, or bad intentions that don’t. • Further, good intentions must translate into good actions, or they are worthless.
Ills & Wickedness • The opposite of ill is well-being: ills are those realities beyond our control which negatively affect us. • The opposite of wickedness is good conduct: wickedness is defined by those realities within our control which negatively affect us.
Ills & Wickedness, continued • For Kant, ills are to be endured in a way that maintains our freedom/control: we do not let misfortune cause us to act in ways which ultimately bring us suffering. • Wickedness, on the other hand, must be cause for concern: evil, particularly our own, should disturb us.
Necessities & Amenities • Kant suggests a focus on what is necessary vs. what is amenable: we must be content with necessities, and never allow amenities to take a position alongside those things we need. • In this way, we maintain our dignity and humanity, and limit being affected by ills or acting wickedly, always cognizant of our priorities.
Cheerful Courage • Ultimately, for Kant, the idea is to adopt an attitude of cheerful courage: we should neither greatly limit our pleasure nor revel in it. From a positive frame of mind, we face adversity, diminish wickedness, and stay true to our Self.
