It would not do to forget the importance of Kant’s Ethics in view of the foregoing criticism.
The following are its special features:
(1) Practical value of Rigorism:
Kant’s rigorism is not utterly devoid of practical value. Actually, it often happens that a person himself does not know his real aim in doing a particular act His unconscious passions often mislead him and sow doubt in his mind.
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Thus, to work always with the duty ht mind is the best thing. Kant does not put animal tendencies at the level occupied by transcendental and benevolent tendencies.
He does not treat these tendencies as moral but still grants them praise-worthiness. It was only after understanding human weaknesses that he preached “duty for duty”.
(2) Universality of moral laws as categorical imperative:
According to Hedonism, the importance of moral laws is dependent upon the results. In this way, moral laws find their basis in the prudence of the individual. Here Kant’s theory of moral categorical imperatives attains importance.
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In recognizing the moral laws to be unqualified, universal and imperatives, Kant establishes a major truth.
(3) Approximation of superiority of reason:
Kant approximated an actual truth in treating reason as the most superior. Reason is the solitary element which individualizes man. In the same way, a good life will fundamentally be an intellectual life.
Self sacrifice is the first step towards self realization but at the same time, it is to be remembered that self realization implies the conversion and not repression of the baser tendencies.
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(4) Faith in inner soul:
According to Kant, “An earring conscience is a chimera.” Man’s inner soul invariably prevents him from doing anything regrettable. Moral rimes result from not listening to the voice of conscience. This opinion of Kant has been supported by Gandhi, Socrates, Christ, etc.