When one considers the concept of freedom, they may think of the ability to do what they wish, when they wish. While this is certainly an example of one facet of our capacity for attaining and utilizing our general freedoms, the concept of freedom is much more complex. In order to understand our ability to be truly free, it is important to recognize that an individual alone may not achieve freedom, but rather does so by living freely in a society composed completely of similarly free people. Kant is one of many philosophers who have attempted to develop their own interpretation of freedom under a constraint. In his Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Immanuel Kant argues that in order for an individual to live freely, they must live in
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He defines an action as moral if and only if it is done based on morality, and out of respect for the moral law. This moral law is in essence the belief that when we act, it is important to take into consideration whether the world would be a better place if every person were to act in such a way. If every individual lives their life acting only with pure motives, they are adhering to this moral law, or categorical imperative, and if they act with any other aim, they are violating it. The moral principles which govern a society must therefore be based not on the concerns or beliefs of the individual, but rather be based solely in logic and reason. Kant views this concept, which is highly prevalent in our own world, as the key to achieving true freedom and a true …show more content…
He argues that nature gave man reason, and the freedom to execute his own will based upon it. But mankind’s “propensity for living in society” presents a rather difficult obstacle to the execute of a purely reason-based will. With society comes the convergence of many different opinions of what morality is, and of which actions may be considered moral or immoral. But Kant’s vision of freedom can only be achieved when everyone in a given society acts based upon their naturally-derived reason. Therefore it is the ability of every individual to act morally and reasonably that constrains our ability to live
He defines an action as moral if and only if it is done based on morality, and out of respect for the moral law. This moral law is in essence the belief that when we act, it is important to take into consideration whether the world would be a better place if every person were to act in such a way. If every individual lives their life acting only with pure motives, they are adhering to this moral law, or categorical imperative, and if they act with any other aim, they are violating it. The moral principles which govern a society must therefore be based not on the concerns or beliefs of the individual, but rather be based solely in logic and reason. Kant views this concept, which is highly prevalent in our own world, as the key to achieving true freedom and a true …show more content…
He argues that nature gave man reason, and the freedom to execute his own will based upon it. But mankind’s “propensity for living in society” presents a rather difficult obstacle to the execute of a purely reason-based will. With society comes the convergence of many different opinions of what morality is, and of which actions may be considered moral or immoral. But Kant’s vision of freedom can only be achieved when everyone in a given society acts based upon their naturally-derived reason. Therefore it is the ability of every individual to act morally and reasonably that constrains our ability to live