On Acting from Duty

Abstract

This thesis will argue that, along with reason, emotions play a critical role in both moral and non-moral life. It is argued by Kantian moralists that a moral law can only based in reason, while Aristotelian moralists believe that emotions cannot be cast aside when considering morality. The goal of this thesis is to utilize the works of contemporary philosophers in order to determine if Immanuel Kant’s view of an a priori moral law based in reason can be reconciled with a moral theory that also emphasizes the roles of passions and sentiments in moral life.