This knowledge represents the features of the moral law (freedom from inclination, human dignity, the kingdom of ends, etc.) to us as morally valuable, which value inspires our assent to adopting morality per se as our end as though we were that way inclined, but does not emotively pull us toward the particular actions it recommends. In “Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View”, Kant describes a kind of self-deception by which we undertake to behave as though we were morally inclined (151). He says that this self-deception, although counterfeit, is necessary and is meant to “lead man to virtue” (152). “Force accomplishes nothing in the struggle against sensuality in the inclination; instead we must outwit these inclinations” (152) – in the absence of true moral character, we can still achieve morality’s demands by pretending that we are moral.
Therefore, it is believed that only actions derived from duty have moral values, and those descended from inclination should not be considered worth morally in any case. This theory differs considerably from Aristotle’s beliefs in Nichomachean Ethics when he argues that taking the right action by inclination is a proof of a moral character. Moreover, duty is necessary to create universal rules. One of these rules states that we should act upon pure intentions because moral rules cannot be excused, hence lying is always wrong. Unfortunately, there is an issue with pure reasoning- every experience is different.
The cause has to not only be about your private self, but it should include a view by you as something outside of you. As in something that is larger than the desires within you. The loyal man believes that the cause has its own values. If your private interest was to be left out of the equation, that essential value would keep you to believing. The cause does not get its values from just your pleasure.
The two types of reasoning can be influenced by emotion in a different manner because of their different process to yield a conclusion. I will be exploring how emotions can influence good reasoning through areas of knowledge such as ethics and history. For example, in ethics, we always struggle to make moral decisions and we try to achieve the best decision with a good reasoning. During the process of decision making through reasoning, emotions can be both beneficial and harmful. For instance, I used to be against the idea of abortion, because I felt that every human being has a right to live.
First, Aristotle asserts that humans have a function, and that function is to act in accord with the rational part of the soul. However, Aristotle fails to demonstrate why acting rationally is the function of humans. He argues that rationality is our purpose because humans are the only animals capable of reason. However, this simply does not follow; just because only humans are capable of reason does not mean that it is our purpose. There are plenty of capabilities humans possess that distinguish them from other animals.
Something happens – injustice, a threat to a nation or a criminal act. Why is it that some people take actions against the so-called “wrongdoers” while some others remain silent? Who or what determines whether something is an “ethical” decision/action? I believe these questions eventually boil down to ethical dilemmas, which are a conflict between moral imperatives. According to me, no party can be judged to be absolutely right or wrong in any given situation; it is a lot more subjective.
“Reason (the faculty which identifies and integrates the material provided by man’s senses) is man’s only means of perceiving reality, his only source of knowledge, his only guide to action, and his basic means of survival.” [Rand] I agree that what separates man from the other creatures on this plant is our ability to reason and be logical. I do however, believe that my definition of reason may differ from the objectivist point of view. I believe that man being a creation of God was given the ability to think and reason, and that we should use it as such. I believe this is shown in the Bible that we are called to study the Bible diligently. There are many parables in the Bible that aren’t always instantly evident the meanings behind them, and I believe it is here that God wants man to search out the mind of God through reasoning, and that will help reinforce the moral grounds we stand
As Homo sapiens, we pride ourselves on the fact that we can construct coherent thought and form sound analysis through piecing together clear identifiable building blocks in a process known as reason. It is an instinctual process and we define it as the key feature that separates us from other species. Reason is the method or rather tool used to think in a distinct and organized way in order to achieve knowledge and understanding. Its importance and significance is in its method and the end toward which it is used defines the validity of the method. Reason is the method that allows us to determine how to gather information and what kind of information we need.
But, as we grew up, we are used to attach a reason to everything we do. We only laugh when there 's a reason, we only cry when there 's a reason. Did you ever give it a thought that 'reasoning ' has become an integral part of our life? Whenever we see someone very happy our first reaction is "Kya baat hai.. Aj bada khush h.. Kya hua?" In childhood, there were not much reasoning happening.
It is implied that reason is good because we are not giving into impulses that cause us to do harmful things. Plato meant that