Kantian Moral Philosophy

Abstract

According to the moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), the principles of morality are found in pure reason, ‘free from everything empirical’ such as knowledge of human nature (G, 410).1 Thus, morality is not founded on desires, whether one’s own (ethical egoism) or everyone’s (utilitarianism). Moral duties are commands of reason (G, 413). Moral laws are universal for all rational beings and so cannot be based on the particularities of human nature or its circumstances (G, 389,408,410n, 442). They are then applied to human nature (when knowledge of human nature and circumstances is pertinent). Since it is our own reason that tells us what we ought to do, morality is not imposed by any external authority (God, the law, custom or tradition). Rather, to be governed by morality is to be governed by reason and thus to be self-governed or autonomous.