BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY
The National Engineering University
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Alangilan Campus
FREEDOM AS
FOUNDATION FOR
MORAL ACTS
Module 3
Kant’s Philosophy on Freedom
Immanuel Kant was a
German philosopher
and one of the central
Enlightenment thinkers.
Born: 22 April 1724,
Königsberg
Died: 12 February 1804,
Königsberg
Kant’s Philosophy on Freedom
Kant's definition of freedom is the right to control
one's actions based on reason, not desire.
All of this can be simplified to the definition of
autonomy.
The term Autonomy derives from the Greek term,
which translates into self-legislator.
The principle, then, is not to live by the animalistic
rules forced on them from birth, but rather to live by
the laws that you enforce on yourself.
Therefore, from Kant's point of view, libertarian
freedom is not absolute, but in fact, it is the
subjugation of oneself to one's wish.
Kant’s Philosophy on Freedom
“There is only one inherent right,” says Kant,
“freedom (independence from being limited by
the option of another) to the degree that it can
coexist with the freedom of each other following
universal law".
Kant opposes any other justification for the state,
in particular by arguing that the welfare of people
cannot be the foundation of state power.
Kant’s Philosophy on Freedom
He claims that the state can not legally
enforce any specific definition of
happiness on its people.
It will be for the dictator to see people
as infants, believing that they are
incapable of grasping what is beneficial
or detrimental to themselves.
Kant’s Philosophy on Freedom
Freedom is not the only reason for the ideals
that underlies the state.
In Theory and Practice, Kant makes equality
the first of three concepts, such as the
freedom of a human being as a member of a
state, the dignity of each person as a subject,
and the freedom of any member of the
commonwealth as a resident.
Kant’s Philosophy on Freedom
As discussed in “Theory and Practice”
Freedom highlighted the autonomous
right of all individuals to conceive of
happiness in their way.
Interference with another’s freedom is
understood as coercing the other to be
happy as the former sees fit.
Kant’s Philosophy on Freedom
Kant’s Philosophy on Morality
Kant based his ethical philosophy on
the idea that reason should be used
to decide how people will behave.
He did not attempt to recommend
concrete action but advised that
reason should be used to decide how
to behave.
Kant’s Philosophy On Justice And Fairness
Kant’s corollary meaning of justice and fairness are the following:
Justice involves external acts through which
an individual may directly or indirectly
influence others.
Justice does not affect the desires, wishes, or
needs of others.
Justice is concerned primarily with the nature
of interpersonal relationships and not with
their substance.
Kant’s Philosophy On Justice And Fairness
The first two concepts of justice of Kant
include the voluntary ideals of benevolence
and charity, while justice concerns whether
or not we value the fair right of others to live
their lives as they see fit.
The third concept of justice illustrates a
situation.
Kant’s Philosophy On Justice And Fairness
Being just and fair is not about having influence
with other people particularly to those in the
higher-ups or those who are considered
influential.
If this is the situation then justice and fairness are
in trouble.
Desires, wishes, or needs of others has nothing to
do with justice, it does not matter.
An interpersonal relationship is more valuable
than content.
The interpersonal relationship must be voluntary.
References
Kant, Immanuel. Groundwork fo the Metaphysics of Morals
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sanjacinto-
philosophy/chapter/kantian-ethics-main-concepts/
https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/immanuel-kants-theory-
justice
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant/#Fre
