Immanuel Kant and Emotions Essay

Submitted By benitobandito3
Words: 963
Pages: 4
Open Document
Benny Cisneros
Professor Bilbeny
PHIL 100
11/9/14
Compare and Contrast: Kant and Mill Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher born in 1724 and died in 1804. His philosophical writings influenced people, not only in Europe but throughout the world. His writings were such that they brought a new dimension in religion, law and history. His view of morals is that our desires and emotions are categorically imperative, meaning that they are consciously driven. His philosophy is closely related to the golden rule which states that one should always act in accordance to the path that will give him or her the best outcome. The categorical imperative rule of Kant seems to suggest that actions must be universal for them to be classified as either moral or immoral. John Stuart Mill on the other hand was a British philosopher born in 1806 and died in 1873. Among his many developments is the utilitarianism theory that explains morality. Mill argues that the moral worth of an action is determined by its utility (pleasure or satisfaction derived from the action). Mill seems to suggest that our emotions and desires form a great basis on which we should judge our morals. For example, if telling lies to another person will ensure that the desire to live in harmony with other people is fulfilled, the act of lying will be considered moral, guided by that desire. On the other hand, Kant’s argument in metaphysics of morals, would view this as a lack of standards because it compromises the true value of lies, which in his view should be seen as immoral, whether there is gratification derived from it or not. This view forms the basis of the contrasting argument between him and Kant. According to Kant, desires and emotions are insignificant in our choice to uphold or reject morality. He argues that morality is a matter of sense of duty, regardless of what one feels at the time they are called to that duty. Kant states that there is nothing that can be considered to be good, apart from good will, which he says is the moral compass that is always on the lookout for good. He says that actions guided by morality are not out to seek rewards, but to fulfill a duty, whether there is gratification and pleasure or not, whether our desires are met and our emotions soothed or not. In his view, morals are superior to emotions and desires. His theory is more of a virtuous and ethical approach based on character. Mill, on the other hand, strongly feels that the happiness and pleasure derived from the consequences of an action should always be the guiding factor in doing something. For example, in the pursuit of happiness, if the result of an action is that it leaves the biggest number of people gratified and happy then the action does not really matter, the bottom line is that it brought happiness and harmony. In his view, desires are superior to morals. Thus, according to Mill, morals are relative, and are based on one’s emotions and desires and the utility derived from the action. Mill, according to his theoretical ideas, seems to suggest that desires and emotions should be placed above reason. His theory hence seems to suggest that people should not be held responsible for their actions, but their emotions should. Emotions and reason do not co-exist, hence, since actions are guided by emotions, people should not be held responsible for their emotions because more often than not, people act out of emotion, more than out of reason. One of the similarities between the two philosophers is that they both seem to agree that morality is always stimulated by something, it does not just happen by itself. What they feel is the driving force behind morality is
Show More

Related Documents: Immanuel Kant and Emotions Essay

Kant Vs Mill

Philosophical theories are many in count: fit for different likes, dislikes, and beliefs of people. As such, the theories proposed by John Stuart Mill or Immanuel Kant might seem right or wrong depending on the subjective viewpoint of the audience. One thing is for certain though, both the mentioned authors are exceptional philosophers with a huge investment in the field. John Stuart Mill (1806-1873), a talented British philosopher, proposed various theories that set the basis for different disciplines…

Words 585 - Pages 3

Philosopher - Immanuel Kant Essay example

Immanuel Kant A Famous Philosopher 10/21/2012 Kelley Huttar Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804): Immanuel Kant was a modern day German deontologist from Prussia and became one of history’s most famous Philosophers. A deontologist is someone who believes in acts that are strictly right or wrong. Kant was an influential thinker and one of the last philosophers of the Enlightenment era. However his work in epistemology (the study of knowledge) and theology (the study of religion) are still influential…

Words 2218 - Pages 9

Emmanuel Kant Essay

Emmanuel Kant Religious toleration: Emmanuel Kant begins his own view of criticisms of the organization and practices of religious groups to those that encourage what he sees as a false sense of religion to that of God. Here Kant argues against religious intolerance by explaining that although humans are certain of our moral duties, human beings do not have an established certainty of God's commands. Thus a religious belief that demands a contravention of morality according to Kant can never be…

Words 1213 - Pages 5

Immanuel Kant Research Paper

judgement of experiences and judgment of perception. Immanuel Kant’s main goal was to “establish “subjective universality” of judgement that something is beautiful or sublime. Judgement in general is the determination of whether a particular instance qualifies as one thing or another.” (Litch). Immanuel Kant was born April 22, 1724, in the city of Konigsberg which was an isolated German province of East Prussia. Kant was raised in a strict a strict Pietist atmosphere, at the age of…

Words 1380 - Pages 6

Essay about Chanelle Philosophy

of the Determinism view. I will support this argument through the views of Pierre Simon de la Place and Sigmund Freud. Viewpoints that criticize this argument consist of Libertarianism defended by Jean Paul Satre and Compatibalism defended by Immanuel Kant. By means of Determinist viewpoint this essay will show that Lindberg was not liberal to make the decisions he did and essentially should not be held fully responsible for the murder of Thin Minh Ly. Pierre Simon believes that, “there is nothing…

Words 772 - Pages 4

Thomas Paine Age Of Reason Analysis

The Enlightenment during the 18th century is considered by historians as one of the most revolutionary and prominent periods in European history. Not only did it introduce open-ended ideas to the world through a philosophical movement, but it also breathed life into concepts that were considered abstract back then, such as liberty, human rights, and secularization. As a matter of fact, much of these theories that were regarded with utmost disdain can now be seen in the United States’ Bill of Rights…

Words 1180 - Pages 5

Kant Vs Hume

and grueling. The tendency to bring subjectivity into a debate that some say requires unwavering objectivity to complete ensures that the circularity continues. Immanuel Kant and David Hume, both pioneers in their own ways, add on to this discussion with two opposing views. Hume approaches it from an empirical mindset, using observable emotion. His primary argument is that morality stems from the public’s determination of what increases social utility. The second premise to this is that an individual’s…

Words 796 - Pages 4

Essay about Theories: Immanuel Kant and Natural Law

philosopher Immanuel Kant suggests that the notion of “motive” is the most significant aspect of verifying what is ethical. Kant claimed that a moral action is one that is carried out of a “sense of duty.” The theory also posits that moral action is not founded upon feelings or pity, as well as is it is not motivated by the prospect of reward. Kant suggests that moral action is one based on a notion which can be expressed by phrase “This is what I ought to do.” For instance, according to Kant, assisting…

Words 544 - Pages 3

Descartes And Hume Similarities

Epistemology, the study of knowledge, justification of truth, and the rationality of belief. Many philosophers have followed and based their beliefs off of it, such as, Descartes, Hume, and Kant. Descartes was the first modern philosopher whose focus was on determining truth and knowledge. Descartes relied upon reasoning to determine truth and believed our senses cause flaws in our thinking of what's true. He believed that their are essentially two types of truths; a priori which is certain, unchanging…

Words 719 - Pages 3

The Most Influential Figures Of The Enlightenment

Concerning the English Nation" challenged traditional beliefs and promoted the ideas of progress and rationality. Another influential figure of the Enlightenment was Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher whose works on ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology transformed the way people thought about the nature of reality and human knowledge. Kant argued that individuals had the capacity to…

Words 479 - Pages 2