The Illusory Fabric of Kant's True Morality

Kant was the true champion of the non-instrumental conception of reason and rationality. Rationality is not limited to knowledge, to identifying and demonstrating what is the case, but is also directed toward leading the way and setting goals for humanity. On Kant's view, rationality in its highest sense deals with the problems of orientation; it concerns itself essentially with ends and norms, with what could and ought to be. Closely associated with this understanding of rationality was also Kant's broad understanding of truth. Just as rationality is not restricted to the cognitive realm, truth-bearers are not limited to cognitive judgments about the world. Truth also concerns what ought to be. Kant himself knew well that the old had to die for the new to be born. Illusion needs to be dispersed for truth to emerge. Kant's criticism was intended as a deadly blow to all previous metaphysics, to all illusory pretensions of pure reason.