Kant's Concept of the Self

Summary

In this lecture, the nature and dynamics of the self according to Immanuel Kant are explored. Kant's concept of the self, primarily a foundation for his moral theory, is complex and not fully developed. The human person is viewed as having two aspects: the noumenon (the 'god-like' self, including psychological state and intellect) and the phenomenon (the physical self). Kantian ethics focus on the noumenon, as it is the free agent capable of moral obligation. The goal is moral perfection, achieved by actualizing the noumenal self through adherence to the categorical imperative, despite the inability to fully know it. The phenomenal self acts as a bridge to understanding the noumenon, guiding the individual towards moral development.

Takeaways

• 📚 Immanuel Kant's concept of the self is foundational to his moral theory but is not fully developed by Kant himself.
• 🧠 The human person, as a rational moral agent, is central to Kant's categorical imperative, aiming for moral perfection.
• 🤔 Kant's self has dual natures: the noumenon (homo noumenon) which is beyond experience and the phenomenon (homo phenomenon) which is empirical and knowable.
• 🚫 The phenomenal self, being the physical and instinctual aspect, is not subject to moral obligations in Kantian ethics.
• 🌟 The noumenal self (homo noumenon) is considered the 'god-like' self, endowed with freedom and absolute inner worth.
• 🔑 Freedom is a key attribute of the noumenal self, allowing for free choice and the capacity to set moral laws through the will.
• 🤝 Respecting oneself is a duty, as it reflects respect for humanity, and violating this duty equates to disrespecting humanity.
• 🚫 Harmful actions like excessive drinking or suicide undermine the absolute inner worth of the self and humanity.
• 🌱 The idealized person strives for perfection by actualizing the noumenal self, guided by the categorical imperative.
• 🔄 The phenomenal self serves as a bridge to understanding the noumenal self, despite the latter being beyond direct experience.

Q & A

What is the primary reason Kant's concept of the self is difficult to systematize?

Kant's concept of the self is difficult to systematize because he did not fully develop it, and it serves primarily as the foundation for his moral theory.

How does Kant's concept of the self relate to his moral theory?

For Kant, the human person as a rational moral agent is the sole basis in determining the truth of the categorical imperative, and the ultimate goal of his moral teachings is for the human person to become morally perfect.

What are the two natures of the human person according to Kant?

According to Kant, the human person has two natures: the noumenon, which is the god-like self comprising the psychological state and intellect, and the phenomenon, which is the merely human self or the physical self.

Why does Kant consider the noumenon as beyond experience?

Kant considers the noumenon, or thing-in-itself, to be beyond experience because it represents the essence of things, which is not accessible through sensory experience.

How does the phenomenal self differ from the noumenon in Kantian philosophy?

The phenomenal self refers to the empirical part of a thing, or how it appears to the observer, and is the part of the self that can be experienced through senses, unlike the noumenon which is beyond experience.

Why is the phenomenal self not considered under moral obligation in Kantian ethics?

In Kantian ethics, the phenomenal self, which represents the animal or instinctual aspect of the human, is not put under moral obligation because it is not capable of moral agency.

What does Kant believe is the key feature of the noumenon or the nominal self?

Kant believes that the noumenon, or the nominal self, is endowed with freedom, making it a free agent with absolute inner worth that demands respect.

How does the idea of free choice relate to the noumenon in Kant's philosophy?

Free choice, as part of the noumenon, is the capacity of the self to act without being determined by external material forces, allowing the human person to act independently of external compulsion.

What role does the will play in Kant's concept of the noumenon?

The will, in Kant's concept of the noumenon, is the capacity to set forth unconditionally binding moral laws, which guides the actions of the free agent in accordance with self-imposed moral laws.

How does Kant suggest that one can actualize their true self?

Kant suggests that one can actualize their true self, the noumenon, by developing into a moral person through obeying the command of the categorical imperative.

What is the significance of the phenomenal self in understanding the noumenon?

The phenomenal self, being part of the sensible world, provides a tangible aspect of the self that can be experienced and understood, serving as a springboard for the human person to have an idea of their noumenal self.