Immanuel Kant Quotes on Virtue
Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals and Critique of Practical Reason ground virtue not in habituated character but in the rational will's capacity to legislate universal law to itself. The categorical imperative — act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law — supplies the test, and the corresponding formula of humanity prohibits treating any rational agent merely as a means. The later Metaphysics of Morals divides ethical duties into duties of right and duties of virtue, with the latter requiring an ongoing inner struggle against the inclinations on behalf of the moral law that practical reason discloses to every rational being.
Quotes
-
“Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the more often and steadily we reflect upon them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me.”
Two things fill the mind with ever-increasing wonder and awe, the more often and the more intensely the mind of thought is drawn to them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me. -
“Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law.”
Der kategorische Imperativ, der überhaupt nur aussagt, was Verbindlichkeit sei, ist: handle nach einer Maxime, welche zugleich als ein allgemeines Gesetz gelten kann. -
Attributed to Immanuel Kant:
“Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means.”
-
Attributed to Immanuel Kant:
“He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men.”
-
Attributed to Immanuel Kant:
“Religion is the recognition of all our duties as divine commands.”
-
“Moral Teleology supplies the deficiency in physical Teleology , and first establishes a Theology ; because the latter, if it did not borrow from the former without being observed, but were to proceed consistently, could only found a Demonology , which is incapable of any definite concept.”
Immanuel Kant , Kant's Critique of Judgment (1892) Tr. J.H. Bernard