Sapere Aude! The Importance of a Moral Education in Kant's Doctrine of Virtue

Abstract

The misunderstanding of philosopher Immanuel Kant's principle of morality—the categorical imperative—by journalism professionals, professors, and students comes in many forms. To better understand Kant's ethical theory, however, one must go beyond Kant's Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals and study his Doctrine of Virtue: Part 2 of The Metaphysics of Morals; to apply the categorical imperative, one must also understand the importance Kant placed on moral education.