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Freud's Criticisms - The Moral Argument (Kant)

Hi all, I'm pretty new to this so you'll have to excuse me if this doesn't make much sense!

Anyway I'm hoping that somebody out there has any good ways of remembering Freud's criticisms of Kant's moral argument? The one with the id, ego and superego?

I'm studying AS so don't need too much detail but any help whatsoever would be massively appreciated! Thanks guys :smile:

Reply 1

simbasa

Hiya!

so to summarise the different meanings im about to tell you:
Id: That part of us that drives for wants/desires
Ego: Our conscious mind
Super ego: The part of a person's mind that acts as a self-critical conscience, reflecting social standards learned from parents and teachers
Basically, I had trouble with this question as well but now I understand it. Freud, an agnostic/atheist, is challenging Kant (a theist) by stating that morality exists independently of any divine cause (I.e God). He argued that morality was the product of the mind and that our moral awareness comes from a clash between our desires and wants (id) and society and cultural pressures on our conscious mind (Ego).

Kant stated in his moral argument that it is "morally necessary to assume the existence of God" as there is an objective moral law that is given by God. Freud argued that morality and duty could be explained by socialisation. Freud however does not deny the existence of a conscience, he just denies that it came from God.
Super ego is the part that knows what's morally correct, for example we know that helping someone in need is better than punching them in the face. It's a weird example but it helps get to the point.

Freud argued that the super ego existed separately from id and ego. It is sometimes at odds with our rational thoughts, it determines whether we feel guilt for doing something wrong or feeling virtuous for doing something right.

I hope this helps! :smile:

Reply 2

simbasa

Just remember

Freud--->Atheist---->Nature---->Conscience not from God

Nature---->Id-desires
----->Ego: Conscious mind
----->Super Ego: Moral Code---->Rational thinking

Kant---->Theist---->morally necessary assume Gods existence---->conscience from God---->Innate + common to all humans

I don't know if this will help, just format triggers that make you remember and do a plan before you start so you don't get lost in the middle of writing an essay.