Lesson 1: Kant’s Postulates on Ethical Morality

Introduction

Ethics has been implanted in humanity by all the great rabbis-called

philosophers since time in memorial, so Ethics and Philosophy has been
interchangeably redefined. The view of morality by Immanuel Kant is teleological
(involving an explanation of something in terms of the purpose it serves, rather
than the cause it exists). He argues that human understanding is the source of the
general laws of nature in consequential experience based on the nature of man
(ability to think and reason out) which has converted to moral laws as the basis of
belief in God, liberty, and immortality.

Kant 's view of morality is teleological, seeing adherence to moral law

as the achievement of human nature at the same time. The rule of the moral law
that man constructs himself is the true manifestation of man's sovereignty and
dominance over nature's sensual boundaries.

Kant therefore believed that scientific understanding, morality, and

religious belief are equally secure and trustworthy since they are all based on the
same foundation of human sovereignty, which is also the ultimate end of
existence. Kant thinks the rationality-morality relationship is that rationality
requires us to be moral

Objectives

At the end of this topic, the students should be able to:

1. Explain Kant’s postulates on Ethical Morality relative to ZSCMST’s core values

(CARE);

2. Draw a trilogy of the essence of God, immortality and freedom and discuss each relation
with one another;

3. Apply and instil the importance of Kant’s arguments to Filipino morality and
Pre-lecture
exemplify by some recent issues.

Kant’s Postulates on Ethical Morality

By knowing who Kant was, and his ethical actions, we will begin our
lesson. Immanuel Kant (a German philosopher) who believed that reason was
the source of morality, and that aesthetics (principles relating to the meaning
and appreciation of beauty, particularly in art) arose from a disinterested
faculty of judgment.
 Immanuel Kant 's views on theoretical philosophy,
epistemology, ethics, political theory, and post-modern
aesthetics continue to have a significant influence. Kant tried to
explain the relationship between reason and human experience
and to move beyond traditional philosophical and metaphysical
failures. He found himself pointing the way to the
understanding of empiricism and empiricism.

The three postulates, namely freedom, God and Immortality, although it can not be
theoretically proved, are incorporated into Kant's already coherent and meaningful ethical
structure to make his ethical theory more practicable, bearing in mind that man is not a purely
rational being, but a creature haunted by inclinations.

A. God. The introduction of the postulate in the philosophy of Kant can be considered as
an attempt to limit the theoretical and to extend the practical in order to bring them
together. He is not the He of faith as postulated by Kant. The postulate of God
originates from one's own intention and would obviously mean that submitting to God's
will submits to one's own intention. God's need emerges because this world does not
guarantee the connection between moral law and happiness. So here God comes to the
rescue and thus the harmony of virtue and the understanding of the highest good is
required.

B. Immortality. The postulate of immortality is very strongly interwoven with God's

postulate. Taking into account the sensuous nature of human beings, Kant states that
being righteous without hope is very difficult for a man. Immortality guarantees that
this dream is assured and guarantees that there is ample space to be satisfied in relation
to worthiness.

C. Freedom. God and Immortality gain objective truth, authority and

subjective value because of equality. Freedom can then be seen as the
keystone of pure reason's foundation.

Source : Red what red why May2016

Immanuel Kant (German philosopher) developed an claim that was based on philosophy
based on practical reasoning. Kant argued that the purpose of humanity is to achieve true
happiness and goodness (the sum mum bonum), and believed that this would be possible
afterlife, and that God would live in order to provide it.
 Instead of atheism or agnosticism, however, Kant advanced a novel philosophical
theology which bases religion on practical reason's "needs." He in fact intimates in the B-Preface
to the Critique of Pure Reason that his belief in religion is part of what inspired Transcendental
Idealism.

In their narratives, Kant is always given an important position, despite the fact that Kant
himself denies that some of these beliefs are irrelevant (at least from a practical point of view).
Many contemporary neo-Kantian moral philosophers have accepted or at any rate minimized the
relation between Kant 's practical philosophy and contentious philosophical commitments, even
with Kant's transcendental idealism.

Kant's definition of freedom is the right on the basis of reason to control one's acts and
not desire. All this can be reduced to the Autonomy principle. ... So, from Kant's point of view,
libertarian freedom is not absolute, but in fact it is merely the enslavement of oneself to their
wish.

The traditional sense of freedom is one's right to act, talk, and or This is what Kant
called The Principle of Freedom. Today it is also more generally regarded as libertarian
liberty. Yet Kant saw liberty differently, and maybe in a subtler way.

Kant's definition of freedom is the right on the basis of reason to control one 's actions,
not desire. All this can be reduced to an Autonomy definition. think justly the way they want. So
in Kant’s view, libertarian freedom isn’t real, but in reality, is just enslavement of oneself to their
desire. The average citizen, believes that on the basis of individual preference, when confronted
with alternative options, will be free to select one over the other, thus, will have the right to
choose one over the other. In freedom, autonomy translates a person into self-legislator to live by
the laws that you enforce on yourself.

1. After a short discussion of Kant’s postulates on Ethical Morality, you

may now apply his contentions relative to ZSCMST’s Core Values
(C.A.R.E C-Commitment
Task No. 1 A-Attitude R-Relationship E- Excellence). You may have the options to
write or speak out by following some clues next page:

OFFLINE: Please do the above and write on the spaces next page as provided.

Do I need to be
committed to
GOD because he Am I free to
created me? be good or
bad?
How’s my
relationship
with my
teachers?
 If I excel in
class, and be
rich, will I
have many
friends?

Write here:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________.

(Lecture Notes)

Kant's postulated the triangle of God's nature, life, and liberty. Man is created in the
image of God who is truly perfect. Therefore, whoever has faith in God, his creator (regardless
of religion) and believes in his compassion, grace and blessings, certainly assumes absolute
happiness in the highest goodness of "being." Man with body and soul justifies becoming
eternal. Kant argues, that believing it is morally necessary. Kant's Postulations of Pure Practical
Reason.is one of his best works in history. His categorical imperative, no matter what the
circumstances, is something a person must do.

"We know just about 'phenomena';

thus, we
don't know 'noumena'—how things
are in themselves"
KANT
Relative to Kant 's arguments, whether or not God really exists beyond time and space is
not important because you are aware of two opposing realities: for science: "Seeing is believing"
while in religion: "Believe and you will see," No one is sure of anything about GOD, whether or
not there is really a divine providence is a matter of how things are within. It is a matter of fact
culture, not appearance culture. This argument tends to align with the conviction of Kant that
matters such as God's nature are due to one's faith, not intelligence matters. It is understood that
human knowledge is confined to the world of what we see on the basis of shapes, colors and
uniqueness.

In addition, Kant argued that freedom is a key essence of "being" in the sense that we
have the ability to do otherwise. For example, Lito took something illegally as a thief; at the
time, it must have been within his control and power not to commit it. It was his choice or
decision to steal so he needs to be punished to correct his morally wrong misdeeds. This scenario
is, according to Kant, a pure manifestation of common sense. Consequently, moral correctness
and wrongness only apply to freeing someone who determines his conduct through his or her
influence at the moment, whether to act correctly or not. So can you define morality by that
issue? You or no? Only clarify your answer l

(Additional Information)

KANT’S CONCEPT OF CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE

Kantian ethics is an approach to morality that

places duty as the highest ethical order.

Kant disclosed that,

the rule of universal
law states that you can
act only for those
reasons which have
the following
characteristic: you
should act for that
purpose while at the
same time being
determined that it is a
universal norm for all
to accept that purpose
for acting.

To strengthen his approach to ethics, Kant used the Categorical Imperative as an

argument. Watch as George and John explain the matter and debate it. Categorical imperative,
according to Kant, is a command of reason that doesn't depend on our desires.

What does KANT mean in treating someone as an end vs. a means?

This argument is hard to clarify in an uncontroversial way, particularly in the pandemic of

today. It's also, however, a distinction on which we have a clear natural argument. What is the
main problem with the golden rule, says Kant, is that it makes morality based on the wishes of an
individual. For him, a maxim is a principle of action which one gives to oneself.

For example, try to think of the complaint that a certain Ben (poor, young guy ) is simply
using you as his sweetheart (sugar mom) who is fifty nine years old but very rich and famous.
When we say this, we are saying that the person is not taking you into account; that he is treating
you as a vehicle for his own ends, He loves you because he needed you as a material good rather
than as deserving respect and consideration in your own right.
 Another example is when Donita ordered food at a restaurant, treating Kim (Jollibee
crew) to whom she placed the order as a means-but this is only a breach of humanity's formula if
Donita did not treat Kim as an end in itself as well.

The morally important thing for Kant is not consequences but how choosers think as they
make choices. You have the choice to choose what 's right and what's wrong, so take action as a
result.

This situation views anyone more like a pure means than an end in itself. According to
Kant, it is important to see that humanity's formula does not prohibit the use of someone as a
means to an end, but does so only without treating them as an end in themselves.