Please wait a minute...
Frontiers of Philosophy in China

ISSN 1673-3436

ISSN 1673-355X(Online)

CN 11-5743/B

邮发代号 80-983

Frontiers of Philosophy in China  2013, Vol. 8 Issue (3): 451-470   https://doi.org/10.3868/s030-002-013-0036-8
  research-article 本期目录
Kant’s Virtue as Strength
Kant’s Virtue as Strength
LIU Jing()
School of Marxism, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
 全文: PDF(351 KB)   HTML
Abstract

The revival of virtue ethics has been accompanied by an increasing interest in Kant’s theory of virtue. Many scholars claim that virtue plays an important role in Kant’s moral theory. However, some worries and disagreements have arisen within the camp of contemporary virtue ethics concerning the Kantian concept of virtue. Some scholars have pointed out that Kantian virtue is at best nothing more than Aristotelian continence, that is, strength of will in the face of contrary emotions and appetites, and hence not a real virtue. In response to these criticisms and worries concerning Kant’s concept of virtue, this paper examines the question of whether Kant’s account of virtue is only a reformulation of Aristotle’s idea of continence. My analysis focuses on Kant’s concept of inner freedom, his ideas about latitude in the imperfect duties of virtue, and his notion of the perfection of virtue. I thus attempt to provide some evidence of the significant differences between Aristotelian continence and Kant’s virtue as strength. Then I explore the significance of Kant’s virtue as strength. Finally, I argue that Kant’s virtue as strength not only is not Aristotle’s idea of continence but also is located at a much higher level, that is, the state of inner freedom and the mental attitude of a human being’s soul.

Key wordsKant    virtue    continence    Gesinnung    Denkungsart    inner freedom
出版日期: 2013-09-05
Corresponding Author(s): LIU Jing,Email:liujing8296@yahoo.com.cn   
 引用本文:   
. Kant’s Virtue as Strength[J]. Frontiers of Philosophy in China, 2013, 8(3): 451-470.
LIU Jing. Kant’s Virtue as Strength. Front Phil Chin, 2013, 8(3): 451-470.
 链接本文:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fpc/CN/10.3868/s030-002-013-0036-8
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fpc/CN/Y2013/V8/I3/451
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed