Critical Analysis Of Korsgaard's The Authority Of Reflection

In Korsgaard’s article on The Authority of Reflection, Korsgaard presents the idea that all rational beings have a unique ability to reflect on our actions and how it plays a role in determining what obligations we have. This means that rational beings can weigh the pros and cons of our options before we decide on what to do, influencing what obligations we will have. This is opposed to acting on one’s first instinct without reflecting on the action first. This essay expands on Korsgaard’s argument on practical identity, moral identity, and the different characteristics of these identities that influence how one acts.

Korsgaard defines practical identity as “a description under which you find your life to be worth living and your actions worth

According to Korsgaard, one has a practical identity which is necessary, not contingent: moral identity. Moral identity refers to one valuing one’s human identity and by extension, those of others (Korsgaard, sec. 3.4.7, pg 212). This is Kant’s idea that by valuing the humanities of others as extensions of one’s own, he develops the categorical imperative – to act according to a law that can be willed as universal to all (Korsgaard, sec.3.2.4, pg 98-99). Korsgaard then goes on to explain why one’s moral identity is one’s only practical identity which is permanent and not contingent because valuing one’s human identity needs to be consistent throughout one’s life. She states that one’s moral identity is necessary because all value in our practical identities stem from valuing one’s human identity. If one does not have value one’s human identity and therefore does not moral identity, then one cannot have a practical identity, living without “integrity or principle”, losing “any reason to live and to act at all” (Korsgaard, sec.3.6.1, pg 129). When one does not have moral identity, then no value can come from one’s practical identity or actions from that practical

This essay has covered the concept of practical identities and their unique characteristic of contingency as well as the foundation of all value in our actions that all rational beings have- moral identity. Reflecting on these ideas, one can relate to the conception of practical identities or moral identity. However, the suggestion of their contingency or non-contingency and their importance in one’s life is questionable. One is led to wonder what the real source of value in one’s action is and the real weight of practical and moral identities in one’s