The idea of duty and the moral law are more important in Kant's moral theory than the pursuit of
happiness. However, Kant's view on ethics still gives happiness some weight, though not in the
same way that other ethical views do. Kant believed happiness was not the most critical factor in
morals. He said morality is based on logical principles and the idea of duty instead. Kant said
that people have a moral duty to follow the categorical imperative, which says that people should
only follow maxims that can be applied to everyone without any problems. This means that acts
are moral if they follow reasonable rules, not if they make people happy. In the Professor's notes,
it is stated on Pg.2, "Kant argues that happiness can never be the compass of moral action. The
goodness of an action, and thus its moral value, is determined by whether it adheres to reason's
categorical imperative." Kant does, however, agree that happiness is essential in his moral
theory.
On the other hand, he says that happiness is a natural goal that people strive for, but it is not
directly morally necessary. Kant instead thinks that happiness depends on doing good things that
are in line with reason and duty. Furthermore, Kant says that moral acts can help create a
peaceful society where everyone can be happy without violating the rights and freedoms of
others. By doing the right thing, people support the values of fairness and respect for others,
which creates an atmosphere where everyone can find happiness. To sum up, Kant's moral theory
includes happiness, but it comes after duty and reason. Kant stresses the significance of moral
actions that are based on reason and universal maxims. These actions eventually improve the
well-being of individuals and society as a whole, making it easier to find happiness within a
morally sound framework.
