philosopy 100

1. Consider this passage from the selection from Kant in this module:

“The majesty of duty has nothing to do with the enjoyment of life; it has its own law, even its own tribunal, and however much one wishes to mix them together, in order to offer the mixture to the sick as though it were medicine, they nevertheless soon separate of themselves; but, if they do not separate, the moral ingredient has no effect at all, and even if the physical life gained some strength in this way, the moral life would waste away beyond rescue” (pp. 40-41).

Although Kant makes it explicit, the view that morality must mean something other than self-interest and acting emotionally is commonly held by many. Evaluate this view: do you agree or disagree with it, and why?

2. According to Nietzsche, what kind of virtues does the person who rejects “herd morality” cultivate? If we identify these virtues with Freud’s “id,” why does Freud think society tries to suppress them?