Kant’s Personality Theory

Kant’s theory of personality, which is totally distinct from the past theories, has a dual character.In respect of theoretical reason, it rejects the reality of personality,meanwhile in respect of practical reason, it accepts the significance of personality. In the “Third Paralogism”, Kant clarified that the rationalists mistakenly identify the major premise with the minor premise in the syllogistic reasoning. The identity that “I”possess in the minor premise is not the identity of person in the major premise, but the identity of transcendental apperception. Thus, it can’t infer that “I” am the same person because “I” am not an entity which guarantee the numerical identity of itself at different times. Therefore, Kant resolves the concept of personality by means of the identity of transcendental apperception.However, it doesn’t mean that the concept of personality is useless. In moral practice, it plays so an important role that Kant asserted it is sufficient and necessary for practice. For Kant, moral philosophy is founded on free will. Only depending on personality, it can be explained why freedom must be necessarily identity with will. The concept of “End in itself” is closely related to the understanding of humanity in Kant’s formula of humanity. The definition of humanity is personality, which possess the capacity to set themselves moral ends and to cultivate this capacity. To this extent, personality is a bridge to link free will and moral principles. Hence, it is sufficient for moral practice, especially to moral legislation. Through them, the personality transcend sense world and step into intellect world. Eventually, it becomes an ideal of freedom.Although Kant has an seemingly paradoxical view about personality, it doesn’t mean that it involves a contradict in itself. On the contrary, it reflects Kant’s unique philosophical doctrine, namely, transcendental idealism.