Immanuel Kant's idea of morality
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
13 February 2025
February 12 was the death anniversary of the great German philosopher Immanuel Kant who was one of the central Enlightenment thinkers. His thoughts and reflections on morality assume much greater significance when some of us argue relentlessly that morality stemmed from god and religion. By the way, Kant was a theist who believed that faith in god was morally necessary. He thought that morality leads to religion, and that religion helps us understand the final goal of morality.
Even a theist like Kant was of the view that morality led to religion and not the other way around. He famously said, “The death of dogma is the birth of morality.” So very true. Dogmas are the illegitimate offspring of a religion. Immanuel Kant's quote, "The death of dogma is the birth of morality," encapsulates his belief that true morality can only arise when individuals transcend blind adherence to established beliefs and instead engage in critical thinking and personal reflection. Kant argues that dogmatic adherence to fixed rules and principles hinders the development of genuine moral understanding.
By challenging and ultimately letting go of dogmatic doctrines, individuals can embark on a journey of self-discovery and independent reasoning, thereby giving rise to a morality that is based on intrinsic principles rather than external influences. In essence, Kant suggests that only by liberating oneself from rigid dogma can one truly cultivate a moral compass that is authentic, rational, and capable of promoting the highest good in society.
The pathological insistence that morality ensued from god and religion itself is a huge dogma. In other words, live your life as though your every act were to become a universal law. This also suggests that morality is predominantly and originally an idealistic individual behaviour that blossoms into group behaviour and finally sublimates into universal morality. Immanuel Kant's famous quote, "Live your life as though your every act were to become a universal law," encapsulates his ethical philosophy known as the categorical imperative. Kant emphasizes the importance of moral principles that are not based on personal interests, but rather on universal laws. By suggesting that we should act as if our actions will have an impact on all individuals, Kant aims to establish a sense of responsibility and accountability in our choices. This quote inspires us to consider the consequences and potential ramifications of our actions, prompting us to act in accordance with principles that can be universally justified. It encourages us to view morality as a duty and guides us to align our conduct with standards that would be acceptable to all rational beings.
Ultimately, Kant urges us to live a life guided by reason and a deep sense of respect for others. Does religion have anything to do with this universal ethical behaviour? Does an imaginary god have any role in bestowing morality upon humans? Always recognize that human individuals are ends. Morality or immorality flows from humans and not from any divine and esoteric source.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/immanuel-kants-idea-morality/d/134604
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