THE STORY OF PHILOSOPHY2 The Lives and Opinions

KANT AND GERMAN IDEALISM 209
IV. THE CRITIQUE OF PRACTICAL REASON
If religion cannot be based on science and theology, on what then?
On morals. The basis in theology is too insecure ; better that it should be
abandoned, even destroyed; faith must be put beyond the reach or realm
of reason. But therefore the moral basis of religion must be absolute, not
derived from questionable sense-experience or precarious inference; not
corrupted by the admixture of fallible reason;
the inner self by direct perception and intuition. We must find a universal
and necessary ethic; a priori principles of morals as absolute and certain
it must be derived from
as mathematics. We must show that "pure reason can be practical; i. e.,
can of itself determine the will independently of anything empirical/* 26
that the moral sense is innate, and not derived from experience. The
moral imperative which we need as the basis of religion must be an
absolute, a categorical, imperative.
Now the most astounding reality in all our experience is precisely our
moral sense, our inescapable feeling, in the face of temptation, that this or
that is wrong. We may yield; but the feeling is there nevertheless. Le
matin je fais des projets, et le soir je fais des sottises;^ but we know that
they are sottises, and we resolve again. "What is it that brings the bite of
remorse, and the new resolution? It is the categorical imperative in us, the
unconditional command of our conscience, to "act as if the maxim of our
action were to become by our will a universal law of nature." 28 We know,
not by reasoning, but by vivid and immediate feelings, that we must avoid
behavior which, if adopted by all men, would render social life impossible.
Do I wish to escape from a predicament by a lie? But "while I can will
the lie, I can by no means will that lying should be a universal law. For
with such a law there would be no promises at all." 29 Hence the sense in
Prudence is
me, that I must not lie, even if it be to my advantage.
hypothetical; its motto is, Honesty when it is the best policy; but the
moral law in our hearts is unconditional and absolute.
And an action is good not because it has good results, or because it is
wise, but because it is done in obedience to this inner sense of duty, this
moral law that does not come from our personal experience, but legislates
imperiously and a priori for all our behavior, past, present, and future.
The only thing unqualifiedly good in this world is a good will the will
to follow the moral law, regardless of profit or loss for ourselves. Never
mind your happiness; do your duty. "Morality is not properly the doctrine
how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves
worthy of happiness." 30 Let us seek the happiness in others; but for our-
**Critique of Practical Reason, p. 31.
^"In the morning I make good resolutions; in the evening I commit follies.*"
"'Practical Reason, p. 130. "JfcW., p. 19. *Ibi