Why Self-Deprecation is Morally Wrong | Philosophy of Kant

Sijin Yan is a philosophical counselor.

This video introduces Kant's idea that we all have a strict and absolute duty to respect ourselves and to act in a way that upholds our own dignity.


Related Reading:

Here are some quotes from this book:
(6:420) But a human being's duty to himself as a moral being only (without taking his animality into consideration) consists in what is formal in the consistency of the maxims of his will with the dignity of humanity in his person. It consists, therefore, in a prohibition against depriving himself of the prerogative of a moral being, that of acting in accordance with principles, that is, inner freedom, and so making himself a plaything of the mere inclinations and hence a thing. - The vices contrary to this duty are lying, avarice, and false humility (servility).
(6:435) On servility. But a human being regarded as a person, that is, as the subject of a morally practical reason, is exalted above any price; for as a person (homo noumenon) he is not to be valued merely as a means to the ends of others or even to his own ends, but as an end in itself, that is, he possesses a dignity (an absolute inner worth) by which he exacts respect for himself from all other rational beings in the world. He can measure himself with every other being of this kind and value himself on a footing of equality with them.

Works by Kantian philosophers

Timestamps
0:00 Philosophy of Kant
2:29 Book Recommendation
2:59 Quote by Kant

#kant #selfesteem #philosophy #philosophyoflife #respect #selfimprovement #selfcare

[xianxiaemperor]

Thank you very much for this video Madam :-))

[dionysianapollomarx]

Thank you for this video. I mostly agree that one does not have to self-deprecate themself. Or shouldn’t, as Kant said. However, in the context of humor, I think it is good to do so if only to assuage another person’s insecurity. As if to say, “me too” or “I understand.”

It is also a good way to present one’s flaws honestly without taking a stab at one’s own self-esteem or truly degrading one’s own person. What shameful things any person has done, will be revealed, eventually, perhaps in a scandalous manner even.

I think the ironic effectiveness of self-deprecating comedy is that dignity isn’t lost in the process of making fun of one’s past flaws, because in my opinion the effective humorist who uses this style operates by laying out to the audience why they were who they once were or are who they still are and why they know they should get better or why they are now getting better. That itself is dignified. It is making way to be different from a past self that one acknowledges once existed but no longer is. It is neither servility nor false humility. Provided the past self isn’t too shameful or scandalous.

So one could say:
“I’ve made mistakes and I know you’ve all made mistakes, so I’ll share mine (the ones I’ve outgrown or am outgrowing).”

P.S. Thank you for posting these types of videos. I hope that this channel gets enough traction to a wider audience. This is high value stuff and is rare on the platform. I’ve subscribed, and clicked the 🔔 button