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.
Hume vs. ... Hume separated the objects of human reason into two categories. ... Kant began to examine pure "a priori" reason by establishing his assessment. ... Kant found many problems within Hume's account. ... Specifically, in the Prolegomena, Kant stated that Hume "justly maintains that we cannot comprehend by reason the possibility of causality...
In Kant's system, truly moral actions are ones that are held to be universally good. ... This is proven through Kant's a priori vs. a posteriori explanation. ... A third major point on which Kant's beliefs are superior to Hume's regards the Kantian Kingdom of Ends. ... Hence, what once seemed moral to a person in Hume's system can change and become immoral as their feelings fluctuate. Thus, we Kantians strongly believe in our motto as a guide to our moral happiness: "Feelings are fickle, reason is forever!!!"...
Thus, Kant concludes that man's reason is destined for an end other than happiness; instead, the purpose of reason is to direct humans to good will itself. 4. ... How does Kant's treatment of generosity differ from Hume's? Under what conditions does a generous act have "moral content" for Kant? ... Using philanthropy as an example, Hume would argue that giving money to the less fortunate is moral because it is considered worthy of esteem in the eyes of mankind. ... Kant interprets this commandment from scripture as a duty because the sentiment of love cannot be forced. ...
The main idea behind Hume's moral philosophy is the difference between morality as a function of reason from morality as a matter of sentiment and passion. ... Reason and sentiment are said to occur in all moral decisions. ... Kant believes morality is based completely on reason. Reason, says Kant, has a practical side, which can tell us what and how to do things. ... Whether it is Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Mill, or Bentham, one major factor always plays a role and that factor is happiness. ...
uuigiugiugiiv Hume's scepticism with regard to what reason and the senses can tell us forced Kant to think through many of life's important questions again. ... For Hume it was neither our reason nor our experience that determined the difference between right and wrong. It was simply our sentiments. This was too tenuous a basis for Kant, who had always felt that the difference between right and wrong was a matter of reason, not sentiment. ... Kant formulates the moral law as a categorical imperative. ...
Empiricism stresses the role of experience and evidence in the formation of ideas over the notion of reason. Several eminent figures in history from philosopher Immanuel Kant to economist Adam Smith to biologist/naturalists Charles Darwin and Thomas Huxley credit David Hume as being the central influence in their writings. ... He begins by comparing the two different manners of human understanding, which fall under the broad category of Moral philosophy. ... In order to understand the meaning of any idea, it has to be traced back to the original feeling/sentiment. ... Thus, Hume states that &q...
Thoroughly explain Kant's understanding of morality, and identify at least two weaknesses of his moral theory. (Be sure to mention and explain the concepts of the Categorical Imperative, deontology, the role of reason, autonomy vs. heteronomy, whether the consequences of actions relate to their moral praiseworthiness). ... These moral laws are based on rational principles that are independent from feelings and emotions, but rather based solely on reason. ... Duty is the reason for obedience, not consequences. ... Because the need for all to always be obedient to the Categorical Imp...
David Hume like many thinkers of British Empiricism believed that knowledge comes from sense perception. ... Immanuel Kant attempts to answer Hume's critic of knowledge and adjust it. Hume argues that it is impossible to know something fully because it is impossible to know the cause upon which it depends. ... Rationalist regard reason as the main source of knowledge. They believe that rational principles are so true and have such a high confidence in reason that certain proof and evidence are not necessary. ...
Thoroughly explain Kant's understanding of morality, and identify at least two weaknesses of his moral theory. (Be sure to mention and explain the concepts of the Categorical Imperative, deontology, the role of reason, autonomy vs. heteronomy, whether the consequences of actions relate to their moral praiseworthiness). ... These moral laws are based on rational principles that are independent from feelings and emotions, but rather based solely on reason. ... Duty is the reason for obedience, not consequences. ... Because the need for all to always be obedient to the Categorical Imp...
