The highest good combines virtue and happiness from "summary" of Immanuel Kant: Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics by Immanuel Kant
The highest good is that which is worthy of being desired not merely as a means to some further end, but for its own sake. It is the combination of virtue and happiness, for these are the two elements that together constitute what is truly good. Virtue is the moral worth of a person, which consists in the consistent adherence to moral principles. Happiness, on the other hand, is the satisfaction of all our inclinations. Virtue alone is not enough to constitute the highest good, for it is possible to be virtuous and yet unhappy. Likewise, happiness alone cannot be the highest good, for it is possible to be happy and yet morally corrupt. It is only when virtue and happiness are combined that we have something that is truly good in itself. This combination is not arbitrary or contingent, but necessary and universal. It is based on the idea that morality and happiness are not separate and independent goods, but are rather intimately connected. A person who is truly virtuous cannot fail to be happy, and a person who is truly happy cannot fail to be virtuous. The highest good is not something that can be achieved through mere external actions or circumstances. It is rather a state of inner harmony and moral integrity that is the result of a life lived in accordance with moral principles. It is the ultimate end of human existence, the goal towards which all our actions should be directed. In seeking the highest good, we are not pursuing our own selfish interests, but rather the good of all humanity. For the highest good is not a private good, but a universal good that is the same for all rational beings. It is the realization of the moral law within us, the fulfillment of our highest potential as human beings.Similar Posts
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