Self-Love (late blog for a missed class)
According to Kant, the moral worth of an action does not come from the result of the action but from the maxim upon which the action is decided upon (276).
No matter how bad things are in life, taking one’s life accomplishes nothing. It is an act committed out of despair and selffishness. Self-love can be taken out of context in this instance to justify the act, however in understanding the true purpose of self-love as it is explained above by Kant, one should actively endeavor thye furtherance of life. In beating the odds and rising above the sufferings, gloom, and despair one would be commended in performing a moral obligation.
Suicide in the name of self-love is a maxim that can not be willed into universal law. There are too many people beating the odds, enjoying life, and meeting hard times head-on to convince them to opt out of life in the name of self-love. Taking one’s life is seen as a derelection of duty, and relinquinshing his or her right to life.
CI dispenses our duty; and the morality of our action gets validated if we can will its maxim into universal law. Suicide in the name of self-love opposes the supreme principle of duty (286). Suicide, according to Kant, is immoral.
