Very interesting, all new to me. On the recommendation of a well known and it appears highly regarded German historian I bought a copy of the Oxford Very Short Introduction to Kant. Nope, still completely bamboozled.
Thank you very much, Katja, for having chosen the attractive title "A feast fit for a philosopher" and for giving me the chance to present the activities of our association FRIENDS OF KANT AND KÖNIGSBERG on ZEITGEIST. More details can be found in the English language section of our website www.freunde-kants.com. Because of the Ukraine war we no longer celebrate Kant's birthday in his hometown of Königsberg, now called Kaliningrad, but we keep in touch with our Russian members and friends there. Kant was working as a domestic teacher in the Northern area of East Prussia that now belongs to Russia and in the Southern area, now part of Poland. Both Russians and Poles now consider Kant as their countryman. Kant is a peacemaker, bringing Germans, Poles, Russians and Lithuanians together (Kant's father was born in Memel, now Klaipeda in Lithuania).
How about this, the opening of chapter 1 of the 'Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals':
"It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation [Einschränkung: reservation/qualification] except a good will." (tr Mary Gregor)
One might apply this principle to certain well-known rulers of nations, and then be able to make a judgement as to the goodness (veracity) of their conduct.
PS: Ofxord University's Continuing Ed. Dept, do some excellent online philosophy introductoty courses (I did them fifteen years ago, though).
If I’ve understood this correctly it’s absolutely spot on. An example I think. The highly respected military historian Richard Holmes once said “For the British the Second World War is an unalloyed good.” Except of course it isn’t. Couple of things, for clarity I’m a Brit and if I have misunderstood it, no surprise then.
I think a way to understand Kant's notion of good will is to compare the parties to WWII. We. the British, went to war very reluctantly (to our great cost); conducted the war only in order to end a threat to our existence, and after the war treated the defeated enemy with considerable magnanimity. The Nazis and their supporters sought war but lied about it when it suited their purpose, conducted the war with unspeakable and unjustifiable brutality, and, even when all was lost, declined to surrender, at great cost to the German people.
Thus, on the one hand, the allies conducted themselves with a good will; the axis powers did not. This does not mean errors and excesses were absent on the allied side, since individuals may have had lapses, and some stratagies may, with hindsight, have crossed the line.
What a lovely piece to read! And great that the peacemaker Kant’s work still survives through the friends’ association. The modern world could do with more people like him.
Everyday is a school day , had no idea of the connection with the silver bean 👍
Probably best not to visit Russia at the moment, bean or no bean.
Yes, they've suspended the meetings for now, as I understand it and have started networking with Polish groups just outside.
Very interesting, all new to me. On the recommendation of a well known and it appears highly regarded German historian I bought a copy of the Oxford Very Short Introduction to Kant. Nope, still completely bamboozled.
I think philosophy is supposed to have that effect :)
Thank you very much, Katja, for having chosen the attractive title "A feast fit for a philosopher" and for giving me the chance to present the activities of our association FRIENDS OF KANT AND KÖNIGSBERG on ZEITGEIST. More details can be found in the English language section of our website www.freunde-kants.com. Because of the Ukraine war we no longer celebrate Kant's birthday in his hometown of Königsberg, now called Kaliningrad, but we keep in touch with our Russian members and friends there. Kant was working as a domestic teacher in the Northern area of East Prussia that now belongs to Russia and in the Southern area, now part of Poland. Both Russians and Poles now consider Kant as their countryman. Kant is a peacemaker, bringing Germans, Poles, Russians and Lithuanians together (Kant's father was born in Memel, now Klaipeda in Lithuania).
😂
How about this, the opening of chapter 1 of the 'Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals':
"It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation [Einschränkung: reservation/qualification] except a good will." (tr Mary Gregor)
One might apply this principle to certain well-known rulers of nations, and then be able to make a judgement as to the goodness (veracity) of their conduct.
PS: Ofxord University's Continuing Ed. Dept, do some excellent online philosophy introductoty courses (I did them fifteen years ago, though).
If I’ve understood this correctly it’s absolutely spot on. An example I think. The highly respected military historian Richard Holmes once said “For the British the Second World War is an unalloyed good.” Except of course it isn’t. Couple of things, for clarity I’m a Brit and if I have misunderstood it, no surprise then.
I think a way to understand Kant's notion of good will is to compare the parties to WWII. We. the British, went to war very reluctantly (to our great cost); conducted the war only in order to end a threat to our existence, and after the war treated the defeated enemy with considerable magnanimity. The Nazis and their supporters sought war but lied about it when it suited their purpose, conducted the war with unspeakable and unjustifiable brutality, and, even when all was lost, declined to surrender, at great cost to the German people.
Thus, on the one hand, the allies conducted themselves with a good will; the axis powers did not. This does not mean errors and excesses were absent on the allied side, since individuals may have had lapses, and some stratagies may, with hindsight, have crossed the line.
About Kant’s hospitality: I was once shown a tiny, contemporaneous drawing of Kant before one of his luncheons, grinding the mustard for his guests.
What a lovely piece to read! And great that the peacemaker Kant’s work still survives through the friends’ association. The modern world could do with more people like him.