Most people seek a passive happiness: Resting, indulging, receiving pleasure. Kant however is aware that there is also an active happiness: Being active, creating, bringing forth meaning.

Quote: 0:08

Kant teaches mostly a negative path to happiness: 0:20

Possible sources of happiness: 8:48

Passive & active happiness: 13:45

Why activity is pleasurable: 35:28

The active person doesn't only work but also rests or plays: 54:10

The unity of all sages and philosophers on happiness and how today it is not discussed: 58:33

Thanks: 1:19:42

On activity and the happiness growing out of it Kant never talked comprehensively or systematically but rather made remarks in various places. It is recommended to study especially his lectures on his topic, both his lectures on metaphysics: https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0028kant/mode/2up | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0028kant_d7g2/mode/2up as well as his lectures on anthropology: https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0000kant_a3n3 | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0000kant_j8c0 as well as his lectures on moral philosophy: https://www.archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes271imma | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes272imma | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0027kant_s1s1/mode/2up (I am not aware of any English translations.)

Whoever wants to support my aufkläring work can do so via:

https://ko-fi.com/jonathanivoloewer

https://www.patreon.com/jonathanivoloewer

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VDDT7T7XHR77U

Thumbnail: www.hotpot.ai

In theoretical regard Kant dismisses the idealism that declares the world to be a mere illusion. Practically, however, we should act as if it was true: We should consider the brevity and vanity of life, treat the world as a children's game and not take anything as important except our moral duty. This is the path to a constantly cheerful heart.

Quote: 0:08

Nothing in life has value except our morality: 0:22

Life is short and fleeting: 27:54

Mere life, measured by its pleasure, is worthless: 34:43

Practical idealism: 54:18

The power of imagination as condition of the possibility of practical idealism: 1:21:41

The constantly cheerful heart: 1:51:44

Abstraction as means to a happy life: 2:01:00

Thanks: 2:22:23

The posture of practical idealism and the constantly cheerful heart Kant discusses mainly in his works on anthropology, so in his Anthropology from a pragmatic point of view: http://korpora.org/kant/aa07/230.html, his lectures on anthropology: https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0000kant_a3n3 | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0000kant_j8c0 and his handwritten estate on anthropology: http://korpora.org/kant/aa15/234.html. (I could not find any free English translations online) But also his lectures on logic deal with art at times, that is with the difference between the aesthetical and the logical: https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes241imma/page/n5/mode/2up | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes242imma/page/n7/mode/2up (English translations exist, but unfortunately I couldn't find them for free on the internet.) You may also gain an impression of Kant's attitude towards life with its brevity and towards death through his Thoughts on the Occasion of Mr. Johann Friedrich von Funk’s Untimely Death https://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/84129/excerpt/9780521884129_excerpt.pdf

Whoever wants to support my aufkläring work can do so via:

https://ko-fi.com/jonathanivoloewer

https://www.patreon.com/jonathanivoloewer

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VDDT7T7XHR77U

Thumbnail: www.hotpot.ai

Each inclination is a chain. It binds us to the objects which we need for satisfying it. And the more we satisfy it the more we become dependent on it through habit and also get numb towards the pleasure. Whoever wants to be happy therefore should not chase after satisfaction of his needs but strive for having as little needs as possible. Kant recommends along with Epicurus a modest life: Don’t deny yourself delights, don’t live in complete asceticism, but be content with little and simple delights, enjoy other pleasures from time to time when there is an opportunity, but don’t make yourself dependent on them.

Quote: 0:08

The positive path towards happiness: Get what you require: 0:38

The negative path towards happiness: Require little: 19:10

Modesty instead of wantoness: 26:21

People should be able to do without, but not actually do without everything: 38:36

Whoever is dependent on things is immoral and unhappy: 1:04:14

Kant's advices: 1:35:26

- Abstain from futile desires: 1:36:13

- Think how many live without whatever is a need to you: 1:39:54

- Don’t let habits turn into inclinations through habit: 1:46:31

- Always keep some pleasures in prospect for later: 2:08:18

- Don’t sacrifice the whole for a part: 2:22:20

- Keep in mind that every gain is a loss and the other way around: 2:30:54

Conclusion: 2:41:24

Thanks: 2:45:16

The posture of modesty Kant discusses mostly in his lectures on moral philosophy: https://www.archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes271imma | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes272imma | https://archive.org/details/kantsgesammeltes0027kant_s1s1/mode/2up and in his handwritten estate on moral philosophy: https://www.korpora.org/Kant/aa19/ (I am not aware of any English translations).

Whoever wants to support my aufkläring work can do so via:

https://ko-fi.com/jonathanivoloewer

https://www.patreon.com/jonathanivoloewer

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VDDT7T7XHR77U

Thumbnail: www.hotpot.ai