Across The Divide

The problem of Hume is one of the main problems in the field of moral philosophy. Eventually, the problem questions the validity of the induction which concluded the propositions copulated by "should" from the propositions copulated by "be". The problem of Hume firstly established at a particular definition for the fact in the meaning of empiricism, which denied any existence beyond the experience. As a result, the existence of causality and universal laws had been doubted. Finally, Hume believed that there are no causality and universal laws, and the concepts of them were just the habits of our mind when we have to think about them. By contrast, the philosophy of German philosopher Immanuel Kant is based on the response of the problem of Hume. The response begins from the doubts about the recognizing ability of human in the field of epistemology, and ends at the confirmation for the universal laws in the field of practice. Kant partially agreed with Hume about the point that the recognizing ability of human cannot confirm the existence of universal laws. However, he argued that we cannot refuse the possibility of their existence. Furthermore, Kant concluded that the empiricism should be limited in the field of epistemology. But, in the field of morals, the existence of universal laws could be demonstrated by practical actions. In conclusion, Kant proved the existence of universal laws in the field of practice through the free will and the fact that the practical reason has the practical ability by itself, and then, he illustrated the utility of the fact and value, bridged the span created by the problem of Hume.By this essay, the author intends to further explore the separation between the fact and value by the discussion of the problem of Hume and the response for it. Consequently, I will practice the theory on the virtual problem among our society in order to find out the resolution for the moral deterioration in the society quo. The contemporary Chinese society has undergone rapid change. During the change, the old standard of value was abandoned for they cannot adapt to the new social situation, and the new value standard has not yet been established. Then the separation between the fact and value happened in Chinese society. This separation on the one hand reflected in the diversification of the standard of value; the other hand, reflect the absence of other standard of value standards as the primary command. To face these problems, the philosophy of Kant tells us that the intrinsic reason of the moral deterioration comes from the effects of our instincts in our mental structure. At meantime, practical reason in the structure of the human mind pointed out the way to resolve the difficulties in front of us.In this paper, I have proven the problem of Hume and its response to the original appearance, history and current situation by the method of literature research. And using descriptive research method gives narrative and explains out Kant's philosophy through my own understanding. At the end, the innovation of this paper is to sum up the Kantian ethics in a chart, which forms a unique interpretation of Kantian ethics system.