Immanuel Kant’s rules for a good life
100 tiny tricks to help with everything
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Immanuel Kant’s rules for a good life
As the second of three great philosophers to shape Western thought, Immanuel Kant is an influential figure in both philosophy and the history of ideas. A German thinker born in 1724, Kant’s career spanned the late 18th century and early 19th century, and he was a significant contributor to philosophy, logic, and epistemology.
He’s known for his work on ethics, political philosophy, metaphysics, and aesthetics — the study of beauty — and much of what we understand as “Kantianism” today stems from his major works.
Along with his friend and mentor, G. W. F. Hegel (who would go on to become one of the most influential thinkers in all of philosophy), Kant helped usher in a new era of philosophical inquiry that emphasized critical thinking and rational analysis over dogmatic assumptions.
His work was built on the traditions of Enlightenment-era thought, especially those of David Hume, Gottfried Leibniz, and Isaac Newton. He believed that philosophy should be accessible to everyone, so he wrote so that anyone could understand him.
Kant believed that our understanding of the world around us is shaped by our experiences and our beliefs about the world. He called this “transcendental” experience, and argued that it could only be truly understood through reason. His belief influenced his approach to ethics in transcendental freedom.
He saw humans as having a sense of autonomy over their own actions and choices and believed that people should be free to live their lives as they choose. This led him to support things like the abolition of slavery and the right to universal education.
Kant’s goal was to provide a foundation for ethics that could stand the test of time. To this end, he tried to ground ethical theory in rational thinking alone. He believed that no outside factors — such as emotion or tradition — should influence ethical decisions in any way.
Principles of ethics
One of Kant’s most famous ideas is his concept of “deontological ethics.” Deontological ethics focuses on what is right or wrong, not what is convenient or easy. According to deontological ethics, actions should be judged based on their consequences rather than on the intentions behind them.
By living by deontological ethics, we can become more empathetic, moral, and selfless people. Kant proposed his “categorical imperative,” as the core principle of ethics. It states that people should act only according to principles that they would be willing to apply to themselves under similar circumstances. The categorical imperative doesn’t tell us exactly what to do, but it does provide us with a framework for thinking about our choices.
To be ethical means to act in accordance with universal principles; that is, acting in a way that is fair, compassionate, and respectful of others. Ethics are important to living a good life because they help us make good decisions. They also give us knowledge about what is right and wrong.
“Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end,” he said. Many of Immanuel Kant’s philosophical ideas have become a part of the Western intellectual tradition.
On seeking knowledge/truth
While Kant did not believe that knowledge is necessarily objective, he thought it should be based on evidence and reason. He also believed that humans are driven to seek knowledge because of their “telos” or purpose in life; we want to find meaning to achieve some sort of end goal, whether it be happiness or fulfillment.
In short, Kant observed that humans are naturally driven to seek knowledge and truth because they want to better understand the world around them and make sense of their place in it. This natural need to understand the world is what drives us to seek knowledge and truth, and Kant believed that it can be viewed as a fundamental part of human nature. “Have the courage to use your own reason- That is the motto of enlightenment,” says Kant.
One of Kant’s other significant contributions was his theory of knowledge, which he called “transcendental” because it involves the mind’s ability to know things beyond what the senses allow it to see or hear.
He argued that knowledge comes from both experience and reason, and that we can be objectively right or wrong about something even if no one else agrees with us.“Experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play,” says Kant.
Lessons on rationality
“The whole interest of my reason, whether speculative or practical, is concentrated in the three following questions: What can I know? What should I do? What may I hope? — Immanuel Kant.
Kant’s first significant contribution to philosophy was his development of the critical philosophy, which seeks to establish whether or not human reason is capable of attaining certain knowledge.
In this regard, Kant argued that human reason is limited by both its own subjective limitations and the objective limits placed on it by God. In particular, Kant held that human reason could not prove that God exists or does not exist.
Moreover, he held that human reason could not prove that natural laws are immutable or contingent upon God’s will. In short, Kant argued that human reason can only attain provisional knowledge and must be informed by empirical evidence to draw conclusions about the nature of reality.
Kant’s central focus was on the critical assessment of knowledge and how it is acquired. He was particularly interested in how people come to know things and whether this knowledge can be trusted, and he proposed that to acquire knowledge, you must seek to establish a relationship between your experience and what you are trying to know.
That way, you can learn what it means to be rational and make sense of your surroundings. Kant believed that humans have a need for freedom from arbitrary authority to be able to think for themselves.
Kant defines a rational person as one who follows a set of rules that govern how they think, act and feel. Rational people use reason to make good decisions in all areas of their lives.
He suggests that we should not act irrationally when making decisions or taking actions in our life — instead, rational thinking should be used to plan what you want to achieve in your life instead of trying to fulfill everyone else’s expectations of how you should act.
He was also concerned with the relationship between science and morality, arguing that if you want to know the truth about something, you must act according to certain moral principles.
For Kant, these principles are universal and apply across time and space.They are not based on human custom or cultural norms but on what we can discover through reason alone. “All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason,” he said.
Kant’s philosophy values rationality and authenticity, which means that authentic behaviour is required to be happy. His core argument is that morality comes from within us as rational beings, not outside forces.
It’s our duty to make the world a better place, which we can do in our own way and by taking personal responsibility for our actions. We can choose to do good or to do evil, but on our own we can’t succeed if we don’t try.
Rationality is a core component of good living. Therefore, people need to strive to be rational. People can make better decisions that lead to a better life by being rational.
Being rational means using reason carefully and thoughtfully to form sound judgments about the world. For example, people can use reason to decide whether or not a particular action is likely beneficial or harmful in the long run. Being rational also means being open-minded and curious about the world around you
Keys to a good life
“Immaturity is man’s inability to make use of his understanding without direction from another. This immaturity is self-imposed when its cause lies not in lack of reason but in lack of resolution and courage to use it without direction from another.” — Immanuel Kant
According to Kant, there are four key ingredients for a good life: self-knowledge, morality, courage, and rationality. Self-knowledge means knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Morality means treating others with respect and compassion. Courage means facing difficult situations head-on. And rationality means using your mind to solve problems.
While there are many things that contribute to a happy and good life, there are a few things that can make all of the difference. Immanuel Kant’s rules for happiness are something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for. He thought the real meaning go life is pursing the highest (moral) good.
“Live your life as though your every act were to become a universal law. It is beyond a doubt that all our knowledge begins with experience. Seek not the favor of the multitude; it is seldom got by honest and lawful means. But seek the testimony of few; and number not voices, but weigh them. “— Critique of Pure Reason
Food for thought
How You React (or Respond) to Anything (and Everyone) is How You Live [Free read on Medium]
Impulse reaction doesn’t work. Choose to pause, breathe, and respond to anything or anyone in a way that aligns with your values. “When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways — either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength,” says spiritual teacher Dalai Lama. Want to transform your reactions? Reflect on past experiences and identify patterns that do not serve you. Think of how you should have responded and practice that in your next experience. Healthier responses will feel unfamiliar at first. But with each deliberate choice, you will rewrite your reactions.
Sort out your life! 100 tiny tricks to help with everything from digital overwhelm to lumpy sugar and unpaid bills [The Guardian]
3. Try a triple list
The first of several list suggestions on this, er, list. “Every day I list three things I must do: one annoying task (eg, post letter), one uncomfortable one (eg, attend gym class) and one painful one (eg, no sugar). Having three of varying discomfort means I am more likely to do the lesser ones as a way to productively procrastinate on the bigger one.” Fionnula, reader
24. Decide once
Kendra Adachi’s bestselling book The Lazy Genius Way is full of life-simplification ideas. I like: “Decide once.” Basically, decide how you want to do something, then stick to it, freeing up your brain for other things. It works best for me on gifts. House-warming: bottle of nice olive oil. Child under 11: book. Child over 11: money.
Timeless wisdom
Concepts worth understanding
Triangulation: the gathering and confirming information from more than one source before making a decision. It gives you a better perspective and helps you eliminate bias by not relying on one source.
Shinrin yoku (forest bathing): An ancient Japanese act of spending time in a forest, opening your senses to the natural surroundings and taking in the forest atmosphere during a leisurely walk. According to research, it can boost the immune system, lower blood pressure and aid sleep.
A quote I’m pondering
"What is the meaning of life? Life. The meaning of life is the experience of life. If you are whole and complete and OK within yourself, you don’t have problems inside. Then you’re having experiences ... You become greater by the experiences you have ... You’re experiencing the moment that’s in front of you. That is the gift that life is giving you, period." — Michael Singer
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Until next week,
Thomas
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Postanly Weekly is now a reader-supported publication. To support my work, you can upgrade to a paid subscription for $7 per month or $40 for an entire year. With a modest yearly contribution you’re not only helping keep Postanly Weekly going, you also get free access to Thinking Toolbox (mental models for life) and Mental Wealth Toolbox (practical concepts for smarter decisions).