Overview
This lecture covers Immanuel Kant's life, his philosophical project to ground ethics and morality in reason rather than religion, his concept of the Categorical Imperative, and his views on politics and aesthetics.
Kant's Background and Life
- Immanuel Kant was born in 1724 in Königsberg, Prussia, to a modest, religious family.
- He lived a modest life, only achieving financial stability as a salaried professor in his fifties.
- Kant was sociable and established structured rules for his dinner parties to encourage meaningful conversation.
- He never left Königsberg, dying there in 1804.
The Enlightenment and Kant's Project
- Kant wrote during the Enlightenment, an era of increasing secularism.
- He recognized religion's social benefits but did not hold conventional religious beliefs himself.
- Kant aimed to replace religious moral authority with reason and human intelligence.
The Categorical Imperative
- The Categorical Imperative is Kant’s central ethical principle, first articulated in "Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals."
- It states that one should act only according to maxims that could become universal laws.
- The principle encourages considering the broader impact if everyone acted in the same way as oneself.
- Kant reformulated the imperative: treat every person as an end in themselves, not merely as a means to an end.
Kant on Government and Liberty
- Kant believed government must ensure liberty by encouraging rational self-rule, not simply allowing people do whatever they want.
- True freedom is acting in accordance with reason and one’s best self, not just following passions.
Kant on Beauty and Art
- In "The Critique of Judgment," Kant argued that beauty inspires our better selves and reminds us of our shared humanity.
- Appreciation of beauty is "disinterested," drawing us away from selfishness.
- Art exemplifies ethical ideas and helps keep our selfish tendencies in check.
Kant’s Lasting Project
- Kant’s philosophy seeks to strengthen the rational, moral side of human nature using secular, rational means.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Categorical Imperative — A principle stating that one should act only according to maxims that could become universal laws.
- Enlightenment — A historical period emphasizing reason, secularism, and individualism over traditional authority.
- Disinterested (in aesthetics) — Enjoyment that is not based on personal gain or self-interest, but on appreciation for beauty itself.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review Kant’s essay "What is Enlightenment?" and excerpts from "Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals."
- Reflect on examples of applying the Categorical Imperative to everyday ethical decisions.