The moral theory of Immanuel Kant
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The moral theory of Immanuel Kant is based on his concept of the good will. For Kant, moral knowledge is a prior, or existing before and in spite of the fact. That is, there are moral precepts which determine how men ought to behave, and these precepts do not depend on actual behavior. Instead, there are truths, moral precepts, which are to be applied to all behavior. We might say that we ought to tell the truth, for instance, and this tells us how to behave. Even if we all tell lies, though, this does not change the fact that we ought to tell the truth, so the precept does not depend on our behavior. We need not even be aware of the moral precept for it to be valid and applicable. Our moral knowledge and the moral precepts we seek to understand have their origin in the practical reason, which is reason in its practical, or moral, function. The notion of the good will is explained by Kant in "Metaphysical Foundations of Morals" where he writes: "Nothing can possibly be conceived in the world, or even out of it, which can be called good without qualification, except a good will" (Kant: p. 140). What Kant feels has to be explained is the meaning of the term "good" when applied to the will, and to accomplish this Kant uses the concept of duty, the most important element for Kant in his conception of the moral consciousness. Kant distinguishes between acts that are performed out of duty and acts which are performed for the sake of duty, stating that those acts performed
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cept the law. . ." (Kant: p. 148). Kant means the law as such, and acting for the sake of duty is acting out of reverence for the law as such. Law must be universal, for that is its essential character. The law does not allow for exceptions. Physical laws are universal, which is why they are laws. Moral laws similarly are universal, which is again why they are laws. The actions of the human being in the physical world are subject to physical laws, but the act of conforming to physical laws requires no volition. Compliance with these laws is unconscious, and compliance is made not only by human beings but by animals and inanimate objects. Only rational beings can deliberately act in accordance with law, and such actions derive a moral worth from the fact that the will is exercised in choosing to act according to law.
The good will, which is the only good without qualification, is manifested in taking action for the sake of duty, and such duty means acting from reverence for the law, which is universal. Kant is faced with translating this general statement into terms of action for the concrete moral life. At the same time, though, Kant makes it clear that explaining how to put these precepts into action is, in one sens
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Approximate Word count = 1645
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
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