Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will. Understanding, wit, judgment and the like, whatever such talents of mind may be called, or courage, resolution, and perseverance in ones plans, as qualities of temperament, are undoubtedly good and desirable for many purposes, but they can also be extremely evil and harmful if the will which is to make use of these gifts of nature, and whose distinctive constitution is therefore called character, is not good. It is the same with gifts of fortune. Power, riches, honor, even heath and that complete well-being and satisfaction with ones condition called happiness, produce boldness and thereby often arrogance as well unless a good will is present which corrects the influence of these on the mind and, in so doing, also correct the whole principle of action and brings it into conformity with universal ends not to mention that an impartial rational spectator can take no delight in seeing the uninterrupted prosperity of a being graced with no feature of a pure and good will, so that a good will seems to constitute the indispensible conduction even of worthiness to be happy.

It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will.

It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will.

It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will.
Three questions: What is a good will? What does it mean to be good without limitation? Why isnt anything else good without limitation?

It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will.
Three questions: What is a good will? What does it mean to be good without limitation? Why isnt anything else good without limitation?

Is having a good will having warm feelings toward humanity? Peace on earth and goodwill toward men. No.

What Kant means by good will (at least sort of): Willing to do the right thing Determining oneself to act morally Not letting anything prevent you from doing what you should Respecting the moral law

What Kant means by good will (at least sort of): Just an approximation: the entire book is Kants attempt to answer this question.

It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will.
Three questions: What is a good will? What does it mean to be good without limitation? Why isnt anything else good without limitation?

It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will.
Three questions: What is a good will? What does it mean to be good without limitation? Why isnt anything else good without limitation?

Good without limitation

Good without qualification, unconditionally good, good in itself, intrinsically good, absolutely good, good in all possible worlds.

Good without limitation

A thing is good without limitation if we cannot conceive of its ever not being good. A thing is good without limitation if we cannot imagine a situation in which we wouldnt morally approve of it.

Good without limitation

It requires nothing else to be good; its a complete and unconditional good. Its a condition of all other goods.

Good will is good without limitation

Two people volunteer for a dangerous mission to save the lives of many innocent people. They are both motivated by duty. One succeeds and one fails. Whats our moral judgment of these two people? Whats the condition of our judgments of them?

Good will is good without limitation

A rich person donates billions of dollars to good causes. A poor person volunteers what time s/he has to help others. Whats our moral judgment of these two people? Whats the condition of our judgment of them?

Good will is good without limitation

As Kant puts it: A good will is not good because of what it effects of accomplishes but only because of its volition, that is, it is good in itself, and is to be valued incomparably higher than all that could merely be brought about by it

Good will is good without limitation

As Kant puts it: Even if by a special disfortune of nature, this will should wholly lack the capacity to carry out its purpose if with its greatest efforts it should achieve nothing and only the good will were left (not of course as a mere wish but as the summoning of all means in our control) then, like a jewel, it would still shine by itself, as something that has full worth in itself.

Important feature of Kants view

Its non-consequentialist: Morality is based on the nature of ones will, not on the consequences of ones actions.

It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will.
Three questions: What is a good will? What does it mean to be good without limitation? Why isnt anything else good without limitation?

It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will.
Three questions: What is a good will? What does it mean to be good without limitation? Why isnt anything else good without limitation?

Nothing else is good w/o limitation

Other things that are thought to be good: Talents of mind: intelligence, wit, memory Gifts of fortune: power, riches, honor, wealth, health, happiness Qualities of temperament: courage, resolution, perseverance Theyre good, but not good without limitation.

Nothing else is good w/o limitation

Other things that are thought to be good: Talents of mind: intelligence, wit, memory Gifts of fortune: power, riches, honor, wealth, health, happiness Qualities of temperament: courage, resolution, perseverance

Nothing else is good w/o limitation

Other things that are thought to be good: Talents of mind: intelligence, wit, memory Gifts of fortune: power, riches, honor, wealth, health, happiness Qualities of temperament: courage, resolution, perseverance

Nothing else is good w/o limitation

Other things that are thought to be good: Talents of mind: intelligence, wit, memory Gifts of fortune: power, riches, honor, wealth, health, happiness Qualities of temperament: courage, resolution, perseverance

Nothing else is good w/o limitation

As Kant puts it: Power, riches, honor and even happiness produce boldness and thereby often arrogance as well unless a good will is present not to mention that an impartial rational spectator can take no delight in the uninterrupted prosperity of a being without a good will, so that a good will seems to constitute the indispensible condition even of worthiness to be happy.

What would Hobbes say about this?

Power, riches, honor and even happiness produce boldness and thereby often arrogance as well unless a good will is present not to mention that an impartial rational spectator can take no delight in the uninterrupted prosperity of a being without a good will, so that a good will seems to constitute the indispensible condition even of worthiness to be happy.

What would Mill say about this?

Power, riches, honor and even happiness produce boldness and thereby often arrogance as well unless a good will is present not to mention that an impartial rational spectator can take no delight in the uninterrupted prosperity of a being without a good will, so that a good will seems to constitute the indispensible condition even of worthiness to be happy.

Nothing else is good w/o limitation

Other things that are thought to be good: Talents of mind: intelligence, wit, memory Gifts of fortune: power, riches, honor, wealth, health, happiness Qualities of temperament: courage, resolution, perseverance

Nothing else is good w/o limitation

Other things that are thought to be good: Talents of mind: intelligence, wit, memory Gifts of fortune: power, riches, honor, wealth, health, happiness Qualities of temperament: courage, resolution, perseverance

As Kant puts it: Moderation, self-control, and calm reflection are good for all sorts of purposes, but they are not good without limitation; for, without the basic principles of a good will they can become extremely evil, and the coolness of a scoundrel makes him not only far more dangerous but also immediately more abominable in our eyes than we would have taken him to be without it.

As Kant puts it: Moderation, self-control, and calm reflection are good for all sorts of purposes, but they are not good without limitation; for, without the basic principles of a good will they can become extremely evil, and the coolness of a scoundrel makes him not only far more dangerous but also immediately more abominable in our eyes than we would have taken him to be without it.

It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will.

Is Kant right, or has he overstated his case?