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Single Idea 21431

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 1. Nature of Value / f. Ultimate value]

Full Idea

Love of man is required by itself, in order to present the world as a beautiful moral whole in its full perfection, even if no account is taken of advantages (of happiness).

Gist of Idea

The love of man is required in order to present the world as a beautiful and perfect moral whole

Source

Immanuel Kant (Metaphysics of Morals II:Doctrine of Virtue [1797], 458 I.II)

A Reaction

For me, this illustrates the basic problem with Kant. In the Groundwork he presents morality as arising from pure reason, deriving moral maxims from contradictions, but here we find a totally ungrounded assertion of grand traditional values.

Book Reference

Kant,Immanuel: 'The Metaphysics of Morals', ed/tr. Gregor,Mary [CUP 1991], p.251