"Firm as a Rock in Her Own Principles" (But Not Necessarily a Kantian)

In several versions of his anthropology lectures he points to novels as one of the most important aids (Hilfsmittel) for acquiring anthropological knowledge (Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View 7: 121; see also Pillau 25: 734, Menschenkunde 25: 857-58, Mrongovius 25: 1213).4 The main goal of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social theory and practice 2007-10, Vol.33 (4), p.667-678
Main Author: Louden, Robert B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropology
Armed forces
Austen, Jane
Austen, Jane (1775-1817)
British & Irish literature
Courage
Criticism and interpretation
English literature
Enlightenment
Ethics
Evaluation
Evil
Field study
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humility
Kant, Immanuel
Kant, Immanuel (1724-1804)
Kantianism
Literary criticism
Literature
Metaphysics
Moral principles
Morality
Novels
Philosophy
Pragmatics
Pragmatism
Virtue
Virtue ethics
Virtues
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Summary:In several versions of his anthropology lectures he points to novels as one of the most important aids (Hilfsmittel) for acquiring anthropological knowledge (Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View 7: 121; see also Pillau 25: 734, Menschenkunde 25: 857-58, Mrongovius 25: 1213).4 The main goal of Kant's anthropology is to acquire a reflective understanding of the human condition-a sense of the problems and challenges that all human beings in all times and places share with one another. 8 In my own critical response to her book, I argued, among other things, that it is not humility that plays the lead role in Kant's theory of virtue but rather courage-courage understood not in the traditional sense of overcoming fear on the battlefield but rather in Kant's sense of strength of will in one's commitment and adherence to moral principle-a trait needed by soldier and civilian alike.9 Virtue, as he remarks succinctly in the Anthropology, is moral strength in adherence to one's duty (7: 147; see also The Metaphysics of Morals 6: 392,405, Collins 27: 465, Vigilantius 27: 492, 570).
ISSN:0037-802X
2154-123X