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WHAT IS PURE, WHAT IS GOOD? DISINTERESTEDNESS IN FÉNELON AND KANT
Author(s) -
CURRAN SR. MARY BERNARD
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the heythrop journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.127
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 1468-2265
pISSN - 0018-1196
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2265.2009.00418.x
Subject(s) - perfectionism (psychology) , happiness , philosophy , context (archaeology) , set (abstract data type) , epistemology , similarity (geometry) , form of the good , aesthetics , social psychology , psychology , computer science , artificial intelligence , image (mathematics) , programming language , paleontology , biology
Two philosophers, Robert Spaemann and Henri Gouhier, have identified a similarity between Fénelon and Kant in the prominence of motive in their thought: disinterestedness in Fénelon's pure love and in Kant's good will . Spaemann emphasizes their common detaching of the ethical in terms of motivation from the context of happiness. In this article I explore further similarities and differences under the topics of perfectionism, pure love, good will, happiness, and disinterestedness, as these are pertinent to their thought. On perfectionism there appears a stark contrast; on pure love over against good will, on happiness, and on disinterestedness, however, there seems a balance between likenesses and differences. Finally I point out a qualification set on pure love by Fénelon and on the good will by Kant.