Kant's Universal Maxim

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The true test of virtue is found in the distinguishing of pain and pleasures. It is considered admirable when a man has the drive and zeal to avoid things which stimulate pleasure to the body. When man finds enjoyment in doing these things this is considered self-control and if man finds this troublesome he is self-indulgent. Another example of this would be if the man finds joy amidst danger and suffering he can be called courageous or one who has fortitude. If the man is opposite of those he will be enslaved to cowardice. “Moral excellence is concerned with pleasure and pain; it is pleasure that makes us do base actions and pain prevents us from doing noble actions. ” It is important that man is informed on the limits of pain and pleasure; …show more content…
From it Kant goes into a deeper distinction in what this kingdom of ends consists of. The kingdom that Kant is mentioning represents the common law that is recognized with universal validity. The way morality is practiced and one can be deemed as moral is when one can account that their actions are going to be in conjunction with the universal maxim. The universal maxim is considered to be the most honorable of actions and it is how the best end is outcome for all rational beings. ”For all rational beings stand under the law that each of them is to treat itself and all others never merely as a means, but always at the same time as an end in itself…A rational being must always consider itself as legislating in a kingdom of ends possible through freedom of the will, whether as a member, or as its head. …show more content…
Emotions consist of things we feel like hatred, hunger, envy and anything that is affected by pleasure or pain. Capacities are affected by emotions; they enable us to feel things like anger, sympathy, or pain. Virtues can neither be emotions or capacities because they are unchangeable, therefore we must consider them to be characteristics. Every virtue “renders good the thing itself of which it is the excellence and causes it to perform its function well. ”The excellence of man is dependent on characteristics that uphold his innate goodness that allow him to perform his personal function well. Proper function is essential and this especially aids to how man interacts with one
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