BELO E SUBLIME: A MULHER E O HOMEMNA FILOSOFIA DE IMMANUEL KANT

Abstract

The dissertation has as objective to present the woman, as characterized byImmanuel Kant. There was a concern in treat the subject, considering the time of thewritings and perspectives employed in each work that refers to women. In addition,mainly, the research kept a neutral look, away from any resentment that could beconcerning the criticisms directed at the female condition. Thus, we believe that theconclusions of this analysis would be more consistent, because it is justifiable fromKantian own arguments.The woman, in Observations on the feeling of the beautiful and sublime(1764), is represented by the qualities from the feeling of beauty. These are honesty,mercy, compassion and solicitude. The simplicity and ingenuousness determine themodesty and thus has been guaranteed the kindness and respect for others. Thesensitivity and vanity are considered by the philosopher as weaknesses. The male isconsidered under the aspects of the sublime feeling. In determining the womanthrough the feeling of beauty, Kant wants to distinguish the sex by attribution ofspecifics characteristics, but this will not impede that such designations are alsofound in the sublime sex, and vice versa. On Observations, Kant argues that therefinement of female taste happens through the sensations. For him, was hard tobelieve that a woman would be able to govern in accordance to principles, but withthis, he does not expect to offend her, because principles were also not easily foundin males. Only in the Kantian moral theory, a woman can be considered fit for therational exercise capable to lead to morality. Precisely because such written sustainitself on principles established a priori, that is, are not to be found in the experiencearea. Such speech directs to the transcendental individual, which is considered onlyby the rationality aspect. Therefore, the moral theory it is regardless of gender.However, under this same perspective, Kant worried himself to talk about themarriage. This will lead him to a contradiction, namely, if freedom is considered anative right, why deny it to the married women?