Moral autonomy and moral health in Kant

Abstract

This study aims to show that Kantian autonomy is not only compatible with but further aims at moral health. To achieve this task, I focus on Kant’s account of judging and show that judging provides the continuity from the universal first principles of moral autonomy to its actualization as moral health. I argue that autonomy as the inalienable rational capacity to judge morally, universally and in accordance with due principles makes the core of moral agency. This reading starts from universal, objectively necessary first principles of justice which are justified by our capacity for autonomy and designates comprehensive moral experience which embraces Kant’s conception of moral teleology. In framing and talking about such moral health, we can have varying degrees and sorts of justification and communicability regarding our judgments, subjective principles, attachments, convictions, hopes or beliefs. Accordingly, the anticipated continuity from considering autonomy as an inalienable human capacity to be moral, to regard autonomy as the divine in us and the capacity to realize moral teleology depends fundamentally upon this scope of our judging. Therefore, my study proceeds on this axis and elaborates what we can justify to all universally to vindicate objective first principle of morals, and elaborates how upon this basis, we can legitimately, consistently, and rationally judge and believe in the dignity of our moral potential and in the actuality of a moral teleology which complements one’s moral health.