On The Compatibility Of Nature And Freedom In Kant’s Moral Philosophy

The compatibility of nature and freedom has been an important topic since ancient time.The view that the two can coexist compatibly is the theory of compatibility,and the view that the two are absolutely opposite is the theory of incompatibility.Kant also discussed the relationship between nature and freedom,but whether he is a compatibility or a non compatibility has attracted the attention of scholars.This paper holds that Kant is a compatibility theorist.First,Kant’s nature lies in the field of phenomena,which are the field we represent through perception and understanding.In this field,everything follows natural causality.Second,Kant shows the existence of transcendental freedom by solving the antinomy between nature and freedom.On the premise of transcendental freedom,morality exists for human beings,which prove that human beings are free.Thirdly,Kant shows the compatibility of nature and freedom by human ties.Kant endows man with experiential character and rational character.The former follows natural causality,while the latter follows free causality.They are compatible.Furthermore,nature and freedom are compatible.However,some people think that the two kinds of character are incompatible from the perspective of rational character and empirical character.Based on the two kinds of character,this paper defends and develops Kant’s theory of compatibility.The compatibility of the two characters has its possibility,reality and ideality.Possibility means that the two kinds of characters are compatible,because the rational character is not based on the incompatible prior freedom,but on the practical compatible freedom.Reality means that there is a feasible operation mechanism for the two kinds of character in the human body.In the actual operation,the two kinds of character will produce confrontation,and also promote people to the Kingdom of purpose in the interactive development.Idealism means that human beings are both perceptual beings and rational beings,pursuing both happiness and morality,and happiness and morality contain the character of experience and reason respectively.The best is to give consideration to both virtue and happiness.On the basis of virtue,with the help of immortality of the soul and the existence of God,we can realize the happiness we deserve,so that the supreme good can be established.Therefore,the two characters are compatible in the ideal of the supreme good.