Publication: Kant’ta ödev ahlakının temellendirilişi
Abstract
KANT’TA ÖDEV AHLÂKININ TEMELLENDİRİLİŞİ Ahlâk felsefesinin en önemli konularından biri ahlâkın temellendirilmesidir. Ahlâk felsefesi tarihinde, kendisinden önceki ahlâk anlayışlarının ana ilkelerini sorgulamak suretiyle evrensel bir ahlâkın temellendirme girişiminde bulunanlar arasında en önde gelenlerden biri Kant’tır. Filozofa göre, mutlulukçu olan bu öğretiler, amaçsal, koşullu, deneysel ve bireysel oldukları için evrensel bir ahlâkı dile getiremezler. Evrensel bir ahlâk ancak kendinde bir amaç, koşulsuz ve a priori temeller üzerine inşa edilebilir. Kant bu özellikleri atfettiği ve ‘mutluluk ahlâkı’nın karşısında konumlandırdığı ‘ödev ahlâkı’nı insan anlayışı üzerine temellendirmektedir. Akıllı, irade sahibi ve özgür bir varlık olması sebebiyle ahlâklılığa konu olan insan, kendisinde a priori bazı prensipler bulmaktadır. İşte bu prensiplere ahlâk yasası adını veren Kant, ahlâk yasasını pratik felsefesinin en temel kavramı olarak belirlemiştir. Apriori, koşulsuz, evrensel ve kendinde bir amaç olan ahlâk yasası ve bu yasanın insanda meydana getirdiği saygı duygusu Kant’ı ödev kavramına ulaştırmıştır. Buna göre ödev, yasaya saygıdan dolayı yapılan eylemin zorunluluğudur ve insanın eylemlerinde ahlâkiliğin tek ölçütüdür.
GROUNDING OF DUTY ETHICS IN KANT One of the most important problems of moral philosophy is grounding morality. In history of moral philosophy, one of the forthcoming figures who has attempted to found a universal morality through a critique of the moral thoughts of his predecessors is Kant. According to the philosopher, these doctrines which are mostly eudaemonist cannot articulate a universal morality since they are teleological, conditioned, empirical and individualistic. A universal morality can only be founded upon an end in itself and necessary and a priori grounds. Kant grounds his duty ethics, which he attributes these qualities and juxtaposes against eudaemonist ethics, upon an understanding of human being. Human being, who has been the subject matter of morality by virtue of having reason, will and freedom finds in himself some a priori principles. Kant, who names these principles moral law, determines the moral law as the fundamental concept of practical philosophy. Moral law which is a priori, necessary, universal and an end in itself and the feeling of respect it generates have brought Kant to the concept of duty. Accordingly, duty is the necessity of the action which is done due to the respect one has for the law and is the sole measure of morality in human action.
GROUNDING OF DUTY ETHICS IN KANT One of the most important problems of moral philosophy is grounding morality. In history of moral philosophy, one of the forthcoming figures who has attempted to found a universal morality through a critique of the moral thoughts of his predecessors is Kant. According to the philosopher, these doctrines which are mostly eudaemonist cannot articulate a universal morality since they are teleological, conditioned, empirical and individualistic. A universal morality can only be founded upon an end in itself and necessary and a priori grounds. Kant grounds his duty ethics, which he attributes these qualities and juxtaposes against eudaemonist ethics, upon an understanding of human being. Human being, who has been the subject matter of morality by virtue of having reason, will and freedom finds in himself some a priori principles. Kant, who names these principles moral law, determines the moral law as the fundamental concept of practical philosophy. Moral law which is a priori, necessary, universal and an end in itself and the feeling of respect it generates have brought Kant to the concept of duty. Accordingly, duty is the necessity of the action which is done due to the respect one has for the law and is the sole measure of morality in human action.