Kantian Moral Maturity and

the Cultivation of Character

Moral Values and Character Education

Kantian Ethics vs. Virtue Ethics

Cannot Immanuel Kant’s ethics be reconciled with virtue ethics?

Should the affect be also morally educated (not just follow out of

duty)?

Kantian Ethics vs. Virtue Ethics

Kantian ethics has often been seen in anegative light. Following Kant’s ethicsmeans enslaving oneself to duty. Theaffect is usually neglected.

Kantian Ethics vs. Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics recognizes a “moralobligation to develop one’s characterand personal potential.”

Ethics according to Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is a classic novelby Jane Austen (1813).

Marcia Baron takes a kind of ethicsfrom a character in the novel namedMr. Darcy.

Restrictive View

Mr. Darcy regrets that although he wastaught the principles of morality, hewas not brought up in a morallyupright manner.

Marcia Baron compares this with the“restrictive view”.

Restrictive View vs. Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics calls for a much moreholistic approach.

The restrictive view focuses more onwhat is external.

Ex: Watching movies like Saw or Friday the 13th.

Internal or external? What is its morality?

Kant’s Ethics is also Holistic

Kant’s ethics calls for personalcultivation to meet our obligationtowards others.

- To become more sensitive to the needsof others

- Better to do good by inclination than byobligation

- Still duty-oriented; help yourself to helpothers

Kant’s Ethics is also Holistic

“A human being has a duty to raisehimself from the crude state of hisnature…”

- Not just a developing a strong and clearsense of duty to say no to base desires,but keeping our inclinations undercontrol and avoiding passions

Kant’s Ethics is also Holistic

“A human being has a duty to raise himself fromthe crude state of his nature…”

- Kant considers friendship as “thesweetest enjoyment of life” and thuscalls for children to be educated to beopenhearted and encourages theformation of friendship in the classroom

Kant’s Ethics is also Holistic“A human being has a duty to raise himself from

the crude state of his nature…”

- “to have trained one’s children is notenough, rather what really matters is thatthey learn to think.”

- Think for ourselves; think of ourselvesinto the place of every other man; andalways to think consistently withourselves

Critique

Pride and Prejudice is primarily a literarynovel.

The author gave the final analysis thatKant has often been the antagonist inthe overall picture of philosophy ofeducation. Unfortunately, she does notstrengthen her advocacy (her positionfor Kant) and admits that it is hard tochange what is.