For years I kept telling myself that it was impossible because I learned using music instead of the keyboard. My present instructor, however, proved that I can, in fact, play by ear. I caused myself to believe that I couldn't play by ear, but now I believe that I can. This is the perfect example of what Kant is saying. I have been enlightened as to one of my many limitations. Therefore, that limit never existed. .
However, Kant also imposes his own limits on society. In my opinion, as I said in class, Kant is a hypocrite. He wants everyone to use their free thought in order to gain independence from a higher order. However, Kant leaves no room for passion and, for that reason, we must look to him for guidance. Passion is what drives our thought and without passion, we can't be free. Our rationale may tell us that we have freedom, when, in reality, we are simply conforming to other ideas. If we accept Kant's arguement and don't adapt it to our own lives, we are conforming once again. .
William Blake discusses this idea of free thought in this short excerpt from "The Prophetic Books": "I must Create a System or be enslav'd by another Man's. / I will not Reason & compare: my business is to Create." (Blake, 159) In relation to Kant's thinking, this statement means that if people don't think for themselves, they become sheep, herded by another. Man's purpose is not to justify their actions based on limits and rules; Mankind must create their own thoughts, morals, points of views, and ideas. However, Blake and Kant also say that we must use reasoning to determine what we create. For example, killing is against that law. Just because someone thinks that they can willingly take the life of another and be justified in doing so, doesn't mean that they won't be condemned. According to Locke, Blake, Kant, and Madison, the limits placed on the individual by society are usually imposed for the general good.
