Immanuel Kant

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Recommended: The key role of freedom in Kant's ethics

According to The Philosopher’s light house, Immanuel Kant challenges the idea of freedom generally; saying that it cannot be proven that freedom is inherent in human nature. According to him freedom is a basic concept that must be presupposed for a being to be thought of as rational. He also says that there is a close knit relationship between our thinking on freedom and morality, he says that freedom is present because we have placed upon ourselves moral laws and are confident in their compliance, and that moral laws are present because we have placed upon ourselves the privilege of free will. Therefore, one exists precisely because of the other. Kant also questions the extent of individual freedom in the presence of a superior power. He was alluding to the argument that complete freedom is to be found within the mental faculty, as one cannot be stopped from thinking within his mind. However Kant challenges this perceived ability of man think for himself, questioning how much and how well man would think, without communicating their thoughts with others. As much as one might hold a...

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