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Single Idea 21422

[filed under theme 1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 1. Nature of Wisdom ]

Full Idea

Moral self-knowledge, which seeks to penetrate into the depths (the abyss) of one's heart that are quite difficult to fathom, is the beginning of all human wisdom.

Gist of Idea

Moral self-knowledge is the beginning of all human wisdom

Source

Immanuel Kant (Metaphysics of Morals II:Doctrine of Virtue [1797], 441 I.I)

Book Ref

Kant,Immanuel: 'The Metaphysics of Morals', ed/tr. Gregor,Mary [CUP 1991], p.236

A Reaction

I'm not clear what I am supposed to be looking for on this quest. I'm guessing that being completely honest about one's own maxims in moral action would be a good start. And maybe confronting one's murkier desires.

Related Idea

Idea 519 One must avoid even speaking of evil deeds [Democritus (attr)]

The 29 ideas from 'Metaphysics of Morals II:Doctrine of Virtue'

21408 For any subject, its system of non-experiential concepts needs a metaphysics [Kant]
21409 Moral principles do not involve feelings [Kant]
21410 That a concept is not self-contradictory does not make what it represents possible [Kant]
21411 A duty of virtue is a duty which is also an end [Kant]
21412 Humans are distinguished from animals by their capacity to set themselves any sort of end [Kant]
21413 Virtue is strong maxims for duty [Kant]
21414 The supreme principle of virtue is to find universal laws for ends [Kant]
21415 Duty is impossible without prior moral feeling, conscience, love and self-respect [Kant]
21416 Philosophers should not offer multiple proofs - suggesting the weakness of each of them [Kant]
21417 How do we distinguish a mean? The extremes can involve quite different maxims [Kant]
21418 There is one principle of virtues; the virtues are distinguished by their objects [Kant]
21419 If virtue becomes a habit, that is a loss of the freedom needed for adopting maxims [Kant]
21420 If virtue is the mean between vices, then virtue is just the vanishing of vice [Kant]
21421 Within nature man is unimportant, but as moral person he is above any price [Kant]
21422 Moral self-knowledge is the beginning of all human wisdom [Kant]
21423 Men can only have duties to those who qualify as persons [Kant]
21424 Cruelty to animals is bad because it dulls our empathy for pain in humans [Kant]
21425 We can love without respect, and show respect without love [Kant]
21427 Respect is limiting our self-esteem by attending to the human dignity of other persons [Kant]
21430 Disrespect is using a person as a mere means to my own ends [Kant]
21428 Respect is purely negative (of not exalting oneself over others), and is thus a duty of Right [Kant]
21426 Love urges us to get closer to people, but respect to keep our distance [Kant]
21429 The duty of love is to makes the ends of others one's own [Kant]
21431 The love of man is required in order to present the world as a beautiful and perfect moral whole [Kant]
21433 Violation of rights deserves punishment, which is vengeance, rather than restitution [Kant]
21434 We must respect the humanity even in a vicious criminal [Kant]
21435 Man is both social, and unsociable [Kant]
21436 We are obliged to show the social virtues, but at least they make a virtuous disposition fashionable [Kant]
21437 All morality directs the will to love of others' ends, and respect for others' rights [Kant]