Kant: The Pursuit of Fundamental Freedom

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are the signs that all men deserve a fundamental freedom. The fact that man has the ability of reasoning calls for the need of a self-government. Reasoning will help the world progress towards an ideal society.

Mankind declares its independence from other species of animals through the use of reason. The mind of man creates all the difference as he is able to choose his own way of life. However, with this gift from nature comes a negative factor that each individual human must face. As discussed by other philosophers, man is a self-interested creature. If every man does whatever he wants in life, society would be destroyed. In order to keep society away from chaos, a government needs to be enforced in order to keep morality intact. The right form of government can establish some boundaries towards individual freedom preventing turmoil. There is an inequality among the rights of the people. A democracy will help develop society move from worse to better and guarantee equal rights to its citizens.

Democracy is the form of government that can fulfill the needs of men in a society. Other philosophers may feel that man needs a master to govern a society. In truth, all men are created equal. If a single man or a selected group of people were to rule a society, there is a chance that they will abuse their powers. A democratic government implements a system of checks and balances to ensure that power isn't abused. Democracy works for the people and implies that everyone in society can be free under the laws established.

The freedom of will conforms to universal natural laws. Nature has a plan to bring humans to develop a perfect national constitution. Nature desires man to reach a cosmopolitan state, in which humans have explored all of their natural capacities before their end (Kant 38). The human race progresses through time. Mankind was allowed to learn from its failures by exploring different types of government. People are discontent when their rights are questioned and not treated as equals among others.

What does mankind consider of happiness? Is it to be able to have dominance over others or to fall in love? After all, this question gives off different responses as all men have their own depictions of happiness. Yet, all mankind deserves an equal dose of happiness. It is worthwhile living when one is happy and can guarantee progress in society.

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