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Single Idea 21426

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / h. Respect ]

Full Idea

The principle of mutual love admonishes men constantly to come closer to one another; that of the respect they owe one another, to keep themselves at a distance from one another.

Gist of Idea

Love urges us to get closer to people, but respect to keep our distance

Source

Immanuel Kant (Metaphysics of Morals II:Doctrine of Virtue [1797], 449 I.II)

Book Ref

Kant,Immanuel: 'The Metaphysics of Morals', ed/tr. Gregor,Mary [CUP 1991], p.244


A Reaction

It might be a situation where it is right to invoke the Golden Rule. Do we want others to be close to us all the time? Probably not. Respect wins, and love loses! Kant's makes a nice distinction. Respect is a virtue, and love is not.

Related Idea

Idea 21425 We can love without respect, and show respect without love [Kant]


The 18 ideas with the same theme [assigning value to the lives of others]:

Kantian respect is for humanity and reason (not from love or sympathy or solidarity) [Kant, by Sandel]
We can love without respect, and show respect without love [Kant]
Respect is limiting our self-esteem by attending to the human dignity of other persons [Kant]
Disrespect is using a person as a mere means to my own ends [Kant]
Respect is purely negative (of not exalting oneself over others), and is thus a duty of Right [Kant]
Love urges us to get closer to people, but respect to keep our distance [Kant]
We must respect the humanity even in a vicious criminal [Kant]
Teach youth to respect people who differ with them, not people who agree with them [Nietzsche]
Religious experience deserves the same respect as our other key experiences, and is best called 'holy' [Taylor,AE, by PG]
Individuals need creativity, reverence for others, and self-respect [Russell]
People lose their rights if they do not respect the rights of others [Ross]
We cannot equally respect what is unequal, so equal respect needs a shared ground [Weil]
Respect is our only obligation, which can only be expressed through deeds, not words [Weil]
To have respect for people, you must feel their claims, or their injustices, or hold them in awe [Taylor,C]
Equality of opportunity without equality of respect would create a very inhuman society [Williams,B]
The word 'respect' ranges from mere non-interference to the highest levels of reverence [Blackburn]
Altruism is either emotional (where your interests are mine) or moral (where they are reasons for me) [Scruton]
We should respect the right of people to live in their own way, even if it is irrational [Swift]