Immanuel Kant

In Fogelin’s book Walking the Tightrope of Reason: The Precarious Life of a Rational Animal, Fogelin claims that any forms of reason or logic should all be left to their own devices and between themselves through 1) skepticism and relativism and 2) rationalist metaphysics. On many different issues, we as thinkers and philosophers are exposed to opposing extremes to a common disjunctive principle. Fogelin in his book does forfeit the idea that some choices are unavoidable, and in many cases, we…

enlightened despot, it is first necessary to define the term enlightenment. Immanuel Kant’s definition is effective to consider how far Catherine fulfils this description. Kant suggests that a lack of courage and resolution to use one’s own understanding without the guidance of another creates a self-incurred immaturity from which one must emerge in order to be enlightened. By saying, ‘Have courage to use your own understanding!’ Kant implies that guidance or even support from another (in this…

The Splitting of Consciousness: Dostoevsky, Hegel and Nietzsche While writing The Birth of Tragedy in 1872, Friedrich Nietzsche had been heavily influenced by the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky, which led him to theorize that human nature was, at its core, “driven by the primitive forces of desire, violence, and fear” (Wallace 124). Further influenced by the works of German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, Nietzsche speculated that there existed two worlds that coexist – one ruled by Apollo and one…

Based on the theory of “Real American Ethics.” Taking Real American Ethics: Taking responsibility for our Country by Albert Borgmann, is an overview of how Americans function in society. In regard to last week assignment I chose the ethical theory of Kantianism. “Kantian ethics are deontological, revolving entirely around duty rather than emotions or end goals. All actions are performed in accordance with some underlying maxim or principle, which are deeply different from each other; it is…

Enlightenment focused on logic, reason, and experimentation. The previous restriction on ideas had caused an explosion of the call to try things for yourself instead of doing what you are told. Philosophes like John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, and Immanuel Kant are among the great thinkers of the Enlightenment period who challenged the ideas of the past. In Locke’s book , “The Two Treatises of Government,” he spoke on how all humans are given the gift of reason that let them solve their own…

a coward and not expecting a reward for what they do, because it is the right thing to do. As President of the United State, Donald Trump will need to believe what he is doing is good, not just for America, but good in general. Following on that, Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative, that as President, Trump will have to act and make decisions. He cannot just wait for other things to happen. As president he must speak softly and be willing to use the big stick if need be, and let history be…

happiness of a Utilitarian, comes “The Greatest Happiness Principle” in which happiness is not just sought for the individual but all of humanity. So how would you think a Utilitarian would feel about abortion? Would a Utilitarian feel the same way as Kant would? In looking at abortion, a Utilitarian would be concerned with the pleasure and pain of the situation where abortion is okay and in vice versa. At one point in time, a utilitarian’s focus on the fetus and consider the outcome of the…

wanted” since “there would be no consequences”, as said by the two drunken men in the movie. However, we should also ask ourselves what aspects should we based our choices of actions on. In Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, philosopher Immanuel Kant discussed this question by explaining the aspects that contributes to a morally right action. Based on the implications of what contributes to a moral action through the movie and Kant’s…

If the person acts of good will and from duty, their motives were good is their intentions. According to Kant, lying does not accord with the duty and therefore would not be morally worthy. That the person’s motive is to simply follow their duty and not indulge in themselves. Kant believed lying was always wrong. A Kantian would find the act of lying despite an agent’s motive. According to Kant, “A good will is good not because if what it performs or effects, not by its aptness for the…

Ethics of The Stranger Meursault follows the doctrine of Kantian ethics. Followers of Kant believe that you should act in a way you expect others to act. He helps people out in their time of need, he conforms to his sense of duty when making important life decisions, and he assumes responsibility for his actions when he does not adhere to his principles. In Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Immanuel Kant spoke of the categorical imperative. Imperatives come in two kinds: hypothetical and…