Kant The Problem of Modern Philosophy Essay Example

Kant The Problem of Modern Philosophy Essay Example Kant The Problem of Modern Philosophy Essay Kant The Problem of Modern Philosophy Essay Metaphysics in Kants Work In Immaneul Kants work, Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics, the principle idea or question of discussion is whether or not metaphysics is possible.Although this is clearly the objective of his argument, the author is not concerned with constructing metaphysics.Rather he uses this question as a method of articulating the problem of modern philosophy, for by creating an inquiry of the theory of metaphysics one is forced to examine its conditions of possibility.This problem of modern philosophy is based on the gap between the phenomenal and the noumenal, or the experience of reality and the knowledge of reality, as illustrated by the renowned empiricist, David Hume.According to Hume, we are fundamentally limited to the phenomenal, holding only our impressions as true based on perception.In contrast, Kant introduced the idea that the mind leaves an impression on perception, which illustrates cooperation between the mind and experience based on their conformity, t! hus explaining know ledge.This innate form has been given to us, and through time and space we are allowed a certain amount of flexibility within boundaries.The genius of Kant lies in the fact that he created an image of reality that was not possible with Hume, for he instilled a level of confidence through recognition of our limits.Therefore, the significance of Kants work is that it portrays the parameters within the mind, which in effect turns Humes skepticism into positive reinforcement of experience. It was Humes belief that you must have experience to have anything at all, for existence must be perceived through impression.The problem of this lies within the fact that our knowledge is restricted to appearances, for we will never know the true nature of things as they are in themselves. Moral law in Kants Conception Kant identifies something as the moral law as it is this purity that Kant acknowledges to exist withoutfirst needing to be perceived (which would therefore rely on that perception to validate it), and rightly claims as the absolute.He further argues that since this true and pure is omnipresent, then it is humanitys duty to hold itself to it, no matter how the inclination or desire to reason away from, or to ignore it, may tempt us.Kant then concludes that since it is this moral law that all beings are based, it is thusly imperative for the collective method, which we so direly depend upon to interpret and utilize the universe, should at its roots solely rely upon that knowledge given to us innately, and not upon empirical and anthropological grounds. Kant identifies this moral law by recognizing the innate sense of duty bestowed upon every being. That there must be such a [pure] philosophy is evident from the common idea of duty and of moral laws.Everyone must admit that if a law is to be morally valid, i.e., is to be valid as a ground of obligation, then it must carry with it absolute necessity. If a being has this idea of duty, of the need to fulfill, it is obvious that it should and must live in accordance to that obligation at every moment and in every way.The concept of survival in the animal kingdom supports this idea well.If we examine an animal and its daily activities, such as hunting for food, protecting its territory, and mating among others, we observe a duty in that animal to stay alive, to see another day. Those who have a Kantian way of thought believe in the universal laws which is when something is commonly known as right or wrong. People like this believe that an action has moral worth if it is done as the right thing to do. In this situation, the right thing to do would be to not cheat on the test because it is commonly known that cheating on a test is wrong. Kantians dont think too much about the consequences of the action or the effects it will have on others. They believe that people should treat others the way they want to be treated. For example, would you want someone in your class to cheat on a test when you’ve worked hard studying? This is known as the Categorical Imperative.