Essay - Applying Kant's Theory to a Specific Descion Form Middlemarch: Ch....

Applying Kant's theory to a specific descion form Middlemarch: Ch. 48, G.Elliot

The Metaphysics of Morals in Middlemarch

Immanuel Kant's metaphysics of morals established a close connection between the reasoning faculty which is proper only ***** human beings and the ability to act morally. Kant based his ethical theory on a famous c*****cept ***** represented the standard of moral action: ***** categorical imperative. In ***** view, the morality of an ***** c***** be established through logi*****al argument, thus demonstrating that reason is the foremost faculty of man and the locus of virtue. A very interesting case for decision making ***** moral action is presented in chapter forty-eight of Middlemarch. Here, Dorothea is confronted with an extremely arduous choice: she ***** peremp*****rily urged by her husband to make the promise of acting in a certa***** way that is dictated by him, after his death. The ***** is even more complicated as C*****aubon does not reveal ***** actual nature ***** his request. ***** context of the decision is also significant as Dorothea has ***** per***** ***** difficulty a number of duties in ***** marriage, all ***** them keep*****g her yoked to the philosophical work done by her husband. The moral conduit of Dorothea is apparent in the sincerity and devotion with which she performs her marital duties that nevertheless exceed what would normally be required of a wife. She does not genuinely love her ***** yet she confers on him a dutiful affection. She does not *****lieve in h***** *****, yet she helps ***** by reading aloud to him, highlighting his readings with a pencil *****nd assisting him in e***** ot***** way possible. When ***** is faced with the unwonted request of an obscure but firm promise, Dorothea spends a whole night in se*****rching for the right answer to ***** ***** dilemma she is faced with. She suffers from terrible qualms as she wavers between committing herself to her husband's wish or refusing his request. During t***** process, it is obvious both for ***** and for the reader ***** the dec*****ion was actually resolved from the moment ***** request ***** made: Dorothea torments herself over the decision, spending a sleepless *****, but she is inwardly aware that she ***** unable to say no. She is bound by compassion and humaneness to grant ***** wish of her husband, since he is helpless and distressed. ***** knows very well that the work he does is absolutely vital to him, ***** in refusing to get involved ***** it she would crush his hopes and wound him terribly. Nevertheless, ***** does not give ***** consent freely merely because she feels that her freedom as an individual is threatened by this commitment. Furt**********, Dorothea sees the futility of her husband's intellectual work and feels a n*****tural repulse towards dedicating her life to such an empty prospect. Thus, although she honorably makes the decision instantly ***** is ***** that ***** is incapable of refusing him, she defers her ***** ***** ***** is unnaturally compelled to devote ***** to