The Kantian Legacy

4:03 PM Reasons Limitations 1. Can only interpret our experience, it can never know how things truly are. 2. Our reason generates ideas that can't be solved by our reason. a. What can I know b. What ought I do c. For What can I hope? You can't use your reason to determine certain deep questions. Like did the universe begin, or do we have free will. Contradictions arise from both sides of the issue. Reason cannot determine our own true nature. - Therefore, we can't even know ourselves, only how we appear to ourselves. What was the standpoint from which Kant spoke - He could only interpret from the point that he argued for. He also assumes that reason is universal, not different based on nature and nurture. "I" is a concept we use to refer to ourselveds, it doesn't connect us. Then, there is our interpretation of ourselves. Then, there is our true selves. Kant's Concept of Imagination - All of our knowing arises from imagination. It is the power and energy that drives our being, deeper than our reason. We can't use our reason to find out its nature. Different philosophers use different words Human Freedom - We can't prove we are or we aren't free, we'll assume we're free. We experience a fundamental moral problem between our duty and our inclinations. Rationality vs. Passions.. Judge our motives. How to Judge Motives • Don't make an exception of yourself, judge yourself as if you would judge anyone else. • Never use anyone else as means to an end. Don't think about consequences, do what you ought to do. Kant - Religion must be understood rationally We have the duty to perfect ourselves. - You can only have that duty if you are able to become perfect.