Full Idea
Kant thought that man is his own law - he binds himself under the law which he gives himself. This is how lawlessness or experimentation is established. This is no more rigorously earnest than Sancho Panza's self-administered blows to his own ass.
Gist of Idea
If Kant lives by self-administered laws, this is as feeble as self-administered punishments
Source
comment on Immanuel Kant (Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals [1785]) by Søren Kierkegaard - The Journals of Kierkegaard JP-I, 188
Book Reference
Kierkegaard,Søren: 'Journals and Papers Vol. 1', ed/tr. Hong,Howard/Edna [Princeton ], p.188
A Reaction
It really is tempting to go easy on yourself rather than on others. Kant had the right ideas, but human beings aren't as disciplined as the categorical imperative requires. [SY]
Related Idea
Idea 2934 To see one's own judgement as a universal law is selfish [Nietzsche]