A Study On Kant's Rationalism Moral Philosophy

The most serious problems of modern society are the social system and the public morality which are out of order, show valueless and feel empty and purposeless .This crises happen not only in individual aspect but also in the nation and state aspect. The substance of that is the crises of morality .So for us, reconstructing a new morality to be an urgent request ,it request that we must research the tradition of modern moral philosophy, being one of the most representative among them, Kant's rationalism moral philosophy deeply reveals the innate character, acclaims the morality value and the meaning of human being ,restructures the spirit and meaning world for human .Therefore, the critical research of Kant's moral philosophy has a great theory and reality sense for us to reflect and solve the problem of modern society .This paper focus on Kant's moral philosophy which established basing on the rational view of human nature ,begins with Kant's definition"human as the limited rational being", combining Kant's critical theory of traditional metaphysics , especially , Kant's idea distinguishes between practical reason and theoretical reason. What's more, it also bases on the dualistic world and duality of person, in the practical reason field or moral field, he verifies the freedom of human, free will, good will, etc. From the thought of practical reason, this paper tries to generally diaentangle and demonstrate the substance and logic thinking of Kant's moral philosophy, understanding the meaning and value of it .From these ,the following conclusion emerge: Kant's rational moral philosophy is to ground the traditional morality on the reason and freedom , to restructure human's moral"UTOPIA". In addition, in modern and post-modern sense, this paper investigates the critical theory for Kant's moral philosophy from Hegel, Marx, and Hebermas. So we understand the difficulties of Kant's moral philosophy. Reflecting the reason, we hope for a valuable explanation and inspiration on solving the crises of morality.The paper points out that Kant's and his philosophy theory arise from the historic background of the Enlightenment, reflecting its dominant ideology: rationalism. Kant's concept of"reason"is human's reason, not god's reason. According to Kant, just for the human's limited and it's aftering the unlimited purpose ,human's reason show two contradiction aspects that distinguish itself and transcend itself ,expressing that the reason both depend on experience and transcend experience, that's transcendental. Kant takes the human reason for absolutely principle and independent origin which don't rely on objective world. He manage to extend the law of objective world from human reason .Besides that ,Rousseau's view of human's freedom cause Kant realizing that the foundation of new metaphysics are the dignity and the belief of right about human being. Rousseau inspire him that philosophy is not about any others but just about the theory of man's practice .So, the essence of Kant's moral philosophy is that human's innate character—free reason as the noumenon of morality . Kant said, moral is deduced from the human's priori free and it is naturally extending to the concept of"good will", because the free will and the will which in accordance with the moral law is the same one. In another word, free will is equal to autonomy and good will, that's the nature of practical reason .In Kant's opinion, human's reason seeking for"things in themselves", realize of"goals"and"free will", all of this realize only in the field of transcendental or practical reason not in experience. On the basis of free will, Kant's moral philosophy demonstrate its rationality, developed three moral laws, they are"categorical imperative", and"Rational being as ends"and"autonomy of will."And he demonstrate the free of reason just for seeking the ultimate goals which is one kind of highest value (supreme good ),therefore ,it constitutes the substance of Kant's moral philosophy .freedom, human as rational being, human's dignity, right and freely existence are the main theme of Kant's moral philosophy.This thesis consist of six parts, the first is introduction, which expounds the cause of issue selection, and the sense of this study. The second part is the analysis of Kant's moral theory and it's background, research the foundation of Kant's moral philosophy ,it consist of the theoretical base ,theoretical substance and means of human's rational nature .The third part is to analyze the fundamental and main principle of Kant's moral philosophy, including Kant's idea distinguishing between practical reason and theoretical reason, providing the practical reason precede the theoretical reason, providing the actuality of free in practical field. The fourth part is the main ideas in Kant's moral philosophy, including"good will","categorical imperative", and"the highest Good". The fifth part investigate the critical theory about Kant's rationalism moral philosophy and it's inspiration to modern society, including discuss the critical theory from Hegel, Marx, Hebermas. What's more, in the way of reflecting the nihilism of moral and criticism of morality in contemporary era, to demonstrate the enlightened significance of Kant's rationalism moral philosophy in the contemporary era. The last part is some ideas and inspiration which the writer arise from this studies and Kant's rationalism moral philosophy.The paper adopts documental method, comparative studies,historical studies and so on.