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Series:   Elements in the Philosophy of Immanuel Kant

Kant on Self-Control

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2024

Marijana Vujošević
Marijana Vujošević
Affiliation:
Universiteit Leiden and Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands

Summary

This Element considers Kant's conception of self-control and the role it plays in his moral philosophy. It offers a detailed interpretation of the different terms used by Kant to explain the phenomenon of moral self-control, such as 'autocracy' and 'inner freedom'. Following Kant's own suggestions, the proposed reading examines the Kantian capacity for self-control as an ability to 'abstract from' various sensible impressions by looking beyond their influence on the mind. This analysis shows that Kant's conception of moral self-control involves two intimately related levels, which need not meet the same criteria. One level is associated with realizing various ends, the other with setting moral ends. The proposed view most effectively accommodates self-control's role in the adoption of virtuous maxims and ethical end-setting. It explains why self-control is central to Kant's conception of virtue and sheds new light on his discussions of moral strength and moral weakness.
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Keywords

self-controlautocracyabstractioninner freedomvirtuemoral strength and weakness
Type
Element
Information
Series: Elements in the Philosophy of Immanuel Kant
Online ISBN: 9781108885232
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication: 20 June 2024

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Kant on Self-Control
  • Marijana Vujošević, Universiteit Leiden and Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands
  • Online ISBN: 9781108885232
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Kant on Self-Control
  • Marijana Vujošević, Universiteit Leiden and Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands
  • Online ISBN: 9781108885232
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Kant on Self-Control
  • Marijana Vujošević, Universiteit Leiden and Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands
  • Online ISBN: 9781108885232
Available formats
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