Stoicyzm Kanta

The affinities between ancient and Kantian Stoicism are striking and were strongly emphasised by Kant himself. In both ethical theories reason defines moral virtue or moral duty. Both theories assume that the emotional-affective aspect of the moral agent should be under the strict control of reason. Indeed, the influence of this lower tier of moral personality on the nature of moral action must be eliminated, because the emotions (affections) deprive principles of action of their moral (rational) nature. Nevertheless, Kant was fully aware of the differences between the two moral theories. While the moral philosophy of the Stoics is elitist, because only few, i.e. sages, can follow its precepts, Kant argued in his ethics in favour of the universal significance of the moral law, which is valid and feasible for each and everybody (egalitarianism). It was rational and therefore noncontingent, while that of the Stoics was prudential. Kant criticised the moral theory of the Stoics for its false idea of the virtuous man, whose will is not influenced by any nonrational (emotional) elements. Within the framework of his theory, rational beings, endowed with senses and emotions, are unable to make their will fully rational, i.e. to follow only the precepts of reason. On the contrary, a moral agent of that kind has to struggle with the limitations of his nature, stemming the influence of the emotions on his will with the help of reason, without, however, transforming it into a purely rational and holy one. If we consider Kant’s theory of the rational control of the will by changing the maxims of actions into moral laws and his idea of duties to oneself and to others, notwithstanding the validity of his theory of radical evil, we can see that Kant’s theory of the moral agent implies the idea of the agent’s moral perfection not only due to his own efforts but also as a result of the influence of his social milieu and the prospect of the afterlife. Hence, we may accept the idea that Kant’s ethics includes elements of ancient moral theories: peripatetic and stoic elements are joined in an original way with Christian themes.