Building a Stable 'Abode of Thought': Kant's Rules for Virtuous Thinking
According to Immanuel Kant, a life of virtue is not just about actions, but also about thinking. As a philosopher, he believed that people can think virtuously and should strive to do so.
Kant identified three simple rules for virtuous thinking in his 1790 book, "Critique of the Power of Judgment":
- Think for yourself.
- Think in the position of everyone else.
- Think in harmony with yourself.
If followed, he thought a "sensus communis," or "communal sense," could result, improving mutual understanding by helping people appreciate how their ideas relate to others' ideas.
Author's summary: Kant's rules offer a guide for virtuous thinking.