Kant versus Hume

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the philosophical outlooks of Immanuel Kant and David Hume, with the author concluding that Kant's perspective is preferable. Kant's opinion on how one gains knowledge is contrasted with Hume's. Both perspectives on the contribution of experience to knowledge and the role of the "self" and a personal "world" are also considered.

Outline:
Introduction
Exposition
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In his principal book entitled, "The Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals," Kant explains why only the categorical imperative is the valid standard of moral obligation (Abbott 2006, Richards 2006, McCormick 2006). He limits his discussion to specific willful actions in moral situations or conditions, where the will is, or should be, influenced only by reason or rational considerations, rather than by subjective or emotional considerations, such as laziness, convenience, or advantage . He writes that morality involves what actions are necessary and that concept comes only from reason or rational considerations. These rational considerations must, in turn, be a "single principle of obligation (Richards)." It must also be stated as a command and has no reference to, or weighed against, the consequences of the action. Kant then says that only the categorical imperative fulfills all these conditions (Richards, Abbott, McCormick)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Morals by Immanuel Kant. Project Gutenberg Library Archive Foundation, 2006. http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfiles?fk_files=10995
• Lavine, Thelma Z. From Socrates to Sartre: the Philosophic Quest. reissue edition.
• Bantam Books, 1985
• McCormick, Matt. Categorical Imperative. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2006. http://www.iep.utm.edu/k/kantmeta.htm
• Morris, William Edward. David Hume. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2001. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume

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