There is a need to clearly point out that the two elements are never synonymous.
The process of perfecting our own natural state in the Kantian view implies that we are actually in the process of attempting to cultivate "the crude dispositions of [our] nature, by which the animal is first raised into the human being" (Kant 1996b).In order to achieve this, Kant suggests that one is required to effectively cultivate their capacities in various personal levels and be respectful to the end of one's existence. Therefore an individual has a choice as to which of their powers they can cultivate. This is because that is where the true end actually lies.
The moral perception therefore is made up of two main commands:
Be holy and Be perfect
The very first one 'be holy" is geared towards the description of the purity of an individual's moral self-perfection. It however demands that in an individual's way of duty, one must act not in conformity with the duty only but also from the duty itself.
The second one which is "be perfect" demands that one attain their moral end in regard to oneself. It is important to note that despite our efforts to attain such a level of perfection, we can never in essence achieve it in our lifetime (in Kantian view). The continual is as maintained by Kantians the best compliance that one can expect and hope for. There is however multiple means through which one can achieve or rather reach their end. The Kantian vie however maintains that some of these means are to a lesser extent aligned with the end that is to be achieved as compared to others. The Kantians therefore have a thought that amongst the various qualities that an individual adopts in an attempt to attain their aim of moral self-perfection, a few are lacking to a large extent in the context of virtue. This therefore means that the Kantians find it extremely necessary to come to a conclusion that the duty in itself is often clouded with elements of non-virtuous qualities that are geared towards the attainment of a virtuous end.
A contention exists as to the level of latitude that the Kantian view allows in their quest to achieve a moral self-perfection. There is a need to point out that most discussion is this domain are directed towards the Kantian vie of duty towards the more natural and immoral self perfection. In situations where moral perfection is concerned, there is a very good argument that the level of latitude involved is relatively low. The Kantian view therefore is that we can never omit our duty in order to perfect our morality. At the same time, the Kantian view maintains that there is less chance in terms of the level of moral self-perfection as compared to the natural perfection as there is for the process of achieving an end to an individual's moral self-perfection. The attainment of moral self perfection in this case involves the process of obeying the "be holy" as well as the "be perfect" commands. These commands are also more rigorous in comparison with the rather relaxed and open ended command that demand that beings should cultivate their talents. In the long run, what remains is the level of decision on what maxims do form part of the constitute self-perfection and what maxims miss out in the mix.
Discussion
The Kantian view of morality is one of the most elaborate ones in the explanation of the thought and concept of ethical morality. In particular, it bears a lot of relevance in the explanation of the utilitarian theories. The moral...
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