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Single Idea 20160

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 1. Nature of Value / a. Nature of value ]

Full Idea

Kant grossly inflated the importance of the human dimension of value in which moral considerations are indeed overriding. He unjustifiably denied the perfectly reasonable contributions of the cultural and personal dimensions to human well-being.

Gist of Idea

Kant focuses exclusively on human values, and neglects cultural and personal values

Source

comment on Immanuel Kant (Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals [1785]) by John Kekes - The Human Condition 05.5

Book Ref

Kekes,John: 'The Human Condition' [OUP 2010], p.107


A Reaction

Excellent to see someone talking about the ultimate values that reside behind Kant's theory. Without such assumptions his theory is, frankly, ridiculous (as Mill explained).

Related Idea

Idea 3762 Why couldn't all rational beings accept outrageously immoral rules of conduct? [Mill on Kant]


The 24 ideas with the same theme [what is desirability or worth in something?]:

For Aristotle 'good' means purpose, and value is real but relational [Achtenberg on Aristotle]
Prime values apply to the life in agreement; useful values apply to the natural life [Stoic school, by Diog. Laertius]
Kant focuses exclusively on human values, and neglects cultural and personal values [Kekes on Kant]
Values need a perspective, of preserving some aspect of life [Nietzsche]
Value is held to be either a quality, or a relation (usually between a thing and a mind) [Ross]
The arguments for value being an objective or a relation fail, so it appears to be a quality [Ross]
There are no values to justify us, and no excuses [Sartre]
Values don't accumulate; they are ruthlessly replaced [Cioran]
Altruistic values concern other persons, and ceremonial values concern practices [Quine]
The base for values has grounds, catalysts and intensifiers [Dancy,J, by Orsi]
There are far more values than we can pursue, so they are optional possibilities [Kekes]
We are bound to regret some values we never aspired to [Kekes]
Innumerable values arise for us, from our humanity, our culture, and our individuality [Kekes]
Cultural values are interpretations of humanity, conduct, institutions, and evaluations [Kekes]
The big value problems are evil (humanity), disenchantment (cultures), and boredom (individuals) [Kekes]
Is valuing something a matter of believing or a matter of desiring? [Smith,M]
Value-maker concepts (such as courageous or elegant) simultaneously describe and evaluate [Orsi]
The '-able' concepts (like enviable) say this thing deserves a particular response [Orsi]
Things are only valuable if something makes it valuable, and we can ask for the reason [Orsi]
A complex value is not just the sum of the values of the parts [Orsi]
Trichotomy Thesis: comparable values must be better, worse or the same [Orsi]
Final value is favoured for its own sake, and personal value for someone's sake [Orsi]
The Fitting Attitude view says values are fitting or reasonable, and values are just byproducts [Orsi]
We can treat value as a verb; we value something when we positively engage with it [Cochrane]