Kant on Positive Obligations (to children)?

What does Kant say about children?

Kant insists that despite lacking real autonomy, children are still ends in themselves. “Hence parents cannot regard their child as, in a manner, a thing of their own making; for a being endowed with freedom cannot be so regarded” (1974, para.

How do you think a Kantian would explain the obligations of a parent to a child?

It is based on the parents’ role as the creators of the child’s existence. Because of a free decision, parents bring a potential person into the world and have to care for that person until she can take care of herself, and the parents are obliged to make that person happy.

What is moral obligation by Kant?

Kant justified this by arguing that moral obligation is a rational necessity: that which is rationally willed is morally right. Because all rational agents rationally will themselves to be an end and never merely a means, it is morally obligatory that they are treated as such.

What does Kant mean by obligation?

for the reasons that the actions in question are morally required, and for no other. Kant’s view then is that ethical motivation is “internal” to obligation in a double sense: (I) the motivation is required for without it there would be no obligation; obligation entails motivation.

What does Kant say about family?

But Kant says that parents have the responsibility not only to feed and care for their children but to educate them both pragmatically (in terms of life skills) and morally (1996, 6:281).

What are some examples of moral obligation?

Some relatively uncontroversial ones are moral obligations we have towards our friends, family, and to any moral agent in virtue of their being a moral agent. For example, one may have a moral obligation to help a friend, to support a parent in old age, or to minimally respect another’s autonomy as a moral agent.

What is good life according to Kant?

He explains why Kant believes that the highest good for a human being is the conjunction of happiness and complete virtue and how it is possible for an individual to attain these two things at the same time.

What is Kant main philosophy?

His moral philosophy is a philosophy of freedom. Without human freedom, thought Kant, moral appraisal and moral responsibility would be impossible. Kant believes that if a person could not act otherwise, then his or her act can have no moral worth.

What is an example of Kant’s moral theory?

For example, if you hide an innocent person from violent criminals in order to protect his life, and the criminals come to your door asking if the person is with you, what should you do? Kantianism would have you tell the truth, even if it results in harm coming to the innocent person.