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the critique of practical reason-第11章

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onditioned; if they were raised to the rank of necessary principles of cognition; but is practical; and would ruin morality altogether were not the voice of reason in reference to the will so clear; so irrepressible; so distinctly audible; even to the commonest men。 It can only; indeed; be maintained in the perplexing speculations of the schools; which are bold enough to shut their ears against that heavenly voice; in order to support a theory that costs no trouble。   Suppose that an acquaintance whom you otherwise liked were to attempt to justify himself to you for having borne false witness; first by alleging the; in his view; sacred duty of consulting his own happiness; then by enumerating the advantages which he had gained thereby; pointing out the prudence he had shown in securing himself against detection; even by yourself; to whom he now reveals the secret; only in order that he may be able to deny it at any time; and suppose he were then to affirm; in all seriousness; that he has fulfilled a true human duty; you would either laugh in his face; or shrink back from him with disgust; and yet; if a man has regulated his principles of action solely with a view to his own advantage; you would have nothing whatever to object against this mode of proceeding。 Or suppose some one recommends you a man as steward; as a man to whom you can blindly trust all your affairs; and; in order to inspire you with confidence; extols him as a prudent man who thoroughly understands his own interest; and is so indefatigably active that he lets slip no opportunity of advancing it; lastly; lest you should be afraid of finding a vulgar selfishness in him; praises the good taste with which he lives; not seeking his pleasure in money…making; or in coarse wantonness; but in the enlargement of his knowledge; in instructive intercourse with a select circle; and even in relieving the needy; while as to the means (which; of course; derive all their value from the end); he is not particular; and is ready to use other people's money for the purpose as if it were his own; provided only he knows that he can do so safely; and without discovery; you would either believe that the recommender was mocking you; or that he had lost his senses。 So sharply and clearly marked are the boundaries of morality and self…love that even the commonest eye cannot fail to distinguish whether a thing belongs to the one or the other。 The few remarks that follow may appear superfluous where the truth is so plain; but at least they may serve to give a little more distinctness to the judgement of common sense。   The principle of happiness may; indeed; furnish maxims; but never such as would be competent to be laws of the will; even if universal happiness were made the object。 For since the knowledge of this rests on mere empirical data; since every man's judgement on it depends very much on his particular point of view; which is itself moreover very variable; it can supply only general rules; not universal; that is; it can give rules which on the average will most frequently fit; but not rules which must hold good always and necessarily; hence; no practical laws can be founded on it。 Just because in this case an object of choice is the foundation of the rule and must therefore precede it; the rule can refer to nothing but what is 'felt'; and therefore it refers to experience and is founded on it; and then the variety of judgement must be endless。 This principle; therefore; does not prescribe the same practical rules to all rational beings; although the rules are all included under a common title; namely; that of happiness。 The moral law; however; is conceived as objectively necessary; only because it holds for everyone that has reason and will。   The maxim of self…love (prudence) only advises; the law of morality commands。 Now there is a great difference between that which we are advised to do and that to which we are obliged。   The commonest intelligence can easily and without hesitation see what; on the principle of autonomy of the will; requires to be done; but on supposition of heteronomy of the will; it is bard and requires knowledge of the world to see what is to be done。 That is to say; what duty is; is plain of itself to everyone; but what is to bring true durable advantage; such as will extend to the whole of one's existence; is always veiled in impenetrable obscurity; and much prudence is required to adapt the practical rule founded on it to the ends of life; even tolerably; by making proper exceptions。 But the moral law commands the most punctual obedience from everyone; it must; therefore; not be so difficult to judge what it requires to be done; that the commonest unpractised understanding; even without worldly prudence; should fail to apply it rightly。   It is always in everyone's power to satisfy the categorical command of morality; whereas it is seldom possible; and by no means so to everyone; to satisfy the empirically conditioned precept of happiness; even with regard to a single purpose。 The reason is that in the former case there is question only of the maxim; which must be genuine and pure; but in the latter case there is question also of one's capacity and physical power to realize a desired object。 A command that everyone should try to make himself happy would be foolish; for one never commands anyone to do what he of himself infallibly wishes to do。 We must only command the means; or rather supply them; since he cannot do everything that he wishes。 But to command morality under the name of duty is quite rational; for; in the first place; not everyone is willing to obey its precepts if they oppose his inclinations; and as to the means of obeying this law; these need not in this case be taught; for in this respect whatever he wishes to do be can do。   He who has lost at play may be vexed at himself and his folly; but if he is conscious of having cheated at play (although he has gained thereby); he must despise himself as soon as he compares himself with the moral law。 This must; therefore; be something different from the principle of private happiness。 For a man must have a different criterion when he is compelled to say to himself: 〃I am a worthless fellow; though I have filled my purse〃; and when he approves himself; and says: 〃I am a prudent man; for I have enriched my treasure。〃   Finally; there is something further in the idea of our practical reason; which accompanies the transgression of a moral law… namely; its ill desert。 Now the notion of punishment; as such; cannot be united with that of becoming a partaker of happiness; for although he who inflicts the punishment may at the same time have the benevolent purpose of directing this punishment to this end; yet it must first be justified in itself as punishment; i。e。; as mere harm; so that if it stopped there; and the person punished could get no glimpse of kindness hidden behind this harshness; he must yet admit that justice was done him; and that his reward was perfectly suitable to his conduct。 In every punishment; as such; there must first be justice; and this constitutes the essence of the notion。 Benevolence may; indeed; be united with it; but the man who has deserved punishment has not the least reaso
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