Ethics of Dignity and Freedom by Kant - Essay Example

The researcher of this essay states that Kant was the first philosopher who proposed the notion of deontological ethics, which is the study of duty. This essay provides a detailed analysis on the topic of ethics as a branch of philosophy that was presented in Kant's works: The Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785), The Critique of Practical Reason (1787). The researcher analyzed the most important Kant’s criticism of previous ethical theories, that is the most obvious in his theory about symbol.

Kant’s ethics is remarkable for the new interpretation of the notion of symbol. The connection between Kant’s ethics and his theoretical philosophy, the genesis of his ethical ideas, formation of his thoughts in frames of study about freedom and ethics, dignity study (the central category of his moral philosophy) – these problems are at the centre of his ethical concept, that was analyzed in the essay. There is one more important issue mentioned in the essay from Kant’s philosophy of dignity and freedom – the connection between freedom and morality.

The philosopher insists that person exists in two worlds: the one is the world of physical existence and another is the world of spirit. It is also suggested in the study that Kant’s philosophy of history and the idea of progress are closely connected with the ethical theory. In conclusion, the researcher states that it is worth saying that Kant’s activity had a great impact on the development of modern ethical philosophy and philosophy in general.