Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor
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Sara Di Giulio
Abstract
In juxtaposition with the myth and tragedy of Ovid’s Medea, this paper investigates the possibility within the Kantian conception of agency of understanding moral evil as acting against one’s better judgment. It defends the thesis that in Kant self-deception, i. e. the intentional untruthfulness to oneself, provides the fundamental structure for choosing against the moral law. I argue that, as Kant’s thought progresses, self-deception slowly proceeds to become the paradigmatic case of moral evil. This is discussed with regard to two important topics in his later moral philosophy: the doctrine of radical evil and the crucial role of the duty of truthfulness in ethics. The inquiry into Kant’s theory of conscience unfolds both against this theoretical background and in light of its historical roots in the polemic against casuistry and probabilism. This contribution closes with a brief look at the tools Kant implements to counter this tendency to self-deception in moral judgment and particularly at the role casuistry plays within his conception of moral education.
Abstract
In juxtaposition with the myth and tragedy of Ovid’s Medea, this paper investigates the possibility within the Kantian conception of agency of understanding moral evil as acting against one’s better judgment. It defends the thesis that in Kant self-deception, i. e. the intentional untruthfulness to oneself, provides the fundamental structure for choosing against the moral law. I argue that, as Kant’s thought progresses, self-deception slowly proceeds to become the paradigmatic case of moral evil. This is discussed with regard to two important topics in his later moral philosophy: the doctrine of radical evil and the crucial role of the duty of truthfulness in ethics. The inquiry into Kant’s theory of conscience unfolds both against this theoretical background and in light of its historical roots in the polemic against casuistry and probabilism. This contribution closes with a brief look at the tools Kant implements to counter this tendency to self-deception in moral judgment and particularly at the role casuistry plays within his conception of moral education.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Inhalt V
- Vorwort VII
- Einführung 1
- Synderesis und Conscientia 17
- Péché et Infraction 35
- On voudrait perdre son âme 61
- Le basculement de la théologie morale catholique allemande 91
- Les cas réservés dans la compagnie de Jésus au XVIIe siècle 143
- Kasuistische Fragen in der Tugendlehre und das Gewissen (TL §§ 9–18) 163
- Gewissen und Urteilskraft in Kants Auffassung der Kasuistik 177
- Kant und der Probabilismus 193
- Der Status unvollkommener Pflichten in Kants Theorie des Gewissens 217
- Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor 233
- Kant und das fehlbare Gewissen 289
- Über ein heiliges Vernunftgebot, aus Menschenliebe zu lügen 311
- Autorenverzeichnis 325
- Personenregister 329
- Sachregister 335
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Inhalt V
- Vorwort VII
- Einführung 1
- Synderesis und Conscientia 17
- Péché et Infraction 35
- On voudrait perdre son âme 61
- Le basculement de la théologie morale catholique allemande 91
- Les cas réservés dans la compagnie de Jésus au XVIIe siècle 143
- Kasuistische Fragen in der Tugendlehre und das Gewissen (TL §§ 9–18) 163
- Gewissen und Urteilskraft in Kants Auffassung der Kasuistik 177
- Kant und der Probabilismus 193
- Der Status unvollkommener Pflichten in Kants Theorie des Gewissens 217
- Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor 233
- Kant und das fehlbare Gewissen 289
- Über ein heiliges Vernunftgebot, aus Menschenliebe zu lügen 311
- Autorenverzeichnis 325
- Personenregister 329
- Sachregister 335
