Full Idea
A hereditary nobility is a distinction bestowed before it is earned, and since it gives no ground for hoping that it will be earned, it is wholly unreal and fanciful.
Gist of Idea
Hereditary nobility has not been earned, and probably won't be earned
Source
Immanuel Kant (Metaphysics of Morals I: Doctrine of Right [1797], §49 Gen D)
Book Reference
Kant,Immanuel: 'Political Writings', ed/tr. Reiss,Hans [CUP 1996], p.152
A Reaction
As the controller of the region of a country, a hereditary noble is the embodiment of a ruling family, which is a well established way of running things. Daft, perhaps, but there are probably worse ways of doing it. Single combat, for example.