Reference no: EM133650749

Question 1. Following the first forum we had on Kant, which explored the very Socratic goal of achieving independence or freedom from the reliance upon holy books or inspired prophets to know what is moral or holy that we see in religion even today, let's think about how the very idea of "freedom" really is the core of Kant's moral philosophy, and what it means -- especially today, as we must face up to the reality of the "Black Lives Matter" movement. Recall that Kant thinks he's discovered a key moral principle to live by, which we can summarize as "only act on those actions that can be transformed, through your own will, into a universal law that everyone is obligated to follow and respect". How does this express and realize "freedom" in our life? Are we fighting for this kind of freedom as the spirit that lives in "Black Lives Matter"? What are we fighting for there -- and what does it have to do with this kind of Socratic freedom or independence we've been thinking about? Would you fight for it? Feel free to answer in any way you like, to any or all part(s) of the question. Please be creative! Engage! Speak your point of view! Make sure your response is at least 250 words!

Question 2. At one point, Kant attempts to show us that, according to the moral principle he's discovered, which is rooted in a belief and an experience of radical human freedom (which is our capacity, as thinking beings, to both create and then follow the law that directs our actions), suicide isn't permitted because it's irrational. Do you think that there is something missing in Kant's (all-too-brief) discussion? Is the call to be free, through a life of self-determination, a a call to live a life that always chooses to live, even in the depths of sorrow that might lead you to contemplate taking your own life?