The Spirit of a Free Person
When the world weighs us down, what is the important value we must not lose sight of? In the heavy realities of middle-aged life, can we truly find hope? To answer this question, we need to delve into the life and teachings of the philosopher Immanuel Kant.
1. The Heavy Responsibilities of Middle Age
Middle age comes with heavy responsibilities. Unlike the youthful days when we challenged everything with fervor, now the weight of responsibilities grows. We must care for aging parents, support school-aged children, and prepare for our own retirement. All of this burdens our shoulders, making daily life a struggle. But how can we find hope amidst these heavy responsibilities?
2. Finding Hope in Kant’s Life
Immanuel Kant lived a life of poverty. It took him 14 years as an external lecturer working 20 hours a week, without a steady salary, to finally become a professor—and even then, it wasn’t the position he wanted. Yet, Kant was always kind and cheerful. He was a good professor and a servant of the king, but also a revolutionary Enlightenment thinker who changed his era. How was Kant able to live such a life?
3. The Spirit of a Free Person
In his essay “What is Enlightenment?”, Kant emphasized the spirit of a free person. He says, “During working hours, we must follow the judgment and instructions of the organization to which we belong. But after work, we are free individuals.” In other words, while we must follow organizational instructions at work, after hours, we can freely express our thoughts.
Through this, Kant emphasizes the importance of practicing freedom, stating that “freedom must also be practiced.” He stresses the importance of exercising free thought and judgment in our daily lives. If we maintain the attitude of a free person, we will never be crushed, no matter what difficulties we face.
4. Living with the Attitude of a Free Person
Kant’s philosophy doesn’t just remain theoretical; he provides us with concrete guidelines for living as a free person. Kant says, “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” This means that when we act, we should always consider whether our actions could become a universal law. This thought can be applied in our daily lives.
Kant also says, “Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end, never merely as a means.” This means that in all our actions, we should respect not only our humanity but also that of others.
5. Living a Life Practicing Kant’s Philosophy
Living a life practicing Kant’s philosophy is not easy. But he provides us with concrete methods to do so. Kant said, “Freedom must also be practiced.” If we consistently practice free thought and judgment in our daily lives, we can maintain the attitude of a free person.
Though middle-aged life is heavy, we can find new hope through Kant’s philosophy. His teachings guide us toward the spirit of a free person, helping us overcome challenging realities.
Conclusion
Middle-aged life is heavy and difficult, but through Kant’s philosophy, we can find new hope. His teachings guide us toward the spirit of a free person, helping us overcome challenging realities. As you reach middle age, do not be daunted by the world, but tune your mind daily to maintain the attitude and dignity of a free person. The world may be able to crush a free person, but it will never defeat one.