Hume vs. Kant: The Roles of Reason and Sentiment in Moral Ju

            Many people have been taught and raised on certain beliefs or morals that their parents and society felt were important in the decisions that one makes. Reason and sentiment play important roles in the foundation of moral judgments and the motivation of action in general. Philosophers David Hume and Immanuel Kant have expressed their views and arguments through their writings and they have brought up many different points of views. After reviewing both philosophers' ideas, one can try to comprehend what a morally praiseworthy or blameworthy action consists of.
             Concerning the general foundation of moral judgments, Hume expresses his favoritism towards the role of sentiment. In An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, Hume examines what gives oneself personal merit to determine the basis of morality. He explains that the foundation of moral judgment begins with social virtues like benevolence and justice. To exercise the sentiment of benevolence, Hume says that it in fact produces the ground of our approval, which he calls "utility". Utility is a part of one's merit and it is happiness and satisfaction to society. Hume also talks about the virtues of justice and the difference between the utopia and distopia of goods. He says that the sole origin of justice is public utility and that in a utopia of goods justice is guaranteed. However, in a distopia of goods, the property rights give way to life and the ownership is not natural. Overall, Hume felt the social virtues should help produce general sentiment and self-love in order to aid in the foundation of moral judgment. Hume also believed that the role of sentiment presides over the role of reason because moral judgment is decided by "some internal sense or feeling, which nature has made universal"(Hume). This means that because the ownership is not natural, reason, without the experience of human nature, can't support the moral judgment.