The Morality of Benevolence

Conclusion: The duty of benevolence is still moral under universal law.

1. Morality contains the principles of both mutual love and respect (24/449).

a. Mutual love occurs when a person is directed towards another person (24/449).

b. Respect occurs when two people are directed to keep themselves at a distance (24/449).

c. (i) An act is moral if it contains a balance of mutual love and respect.

2. Immorality results in a lack of either mutual love or respect (24/449).

a. (i) An act is immoral if it contains an imbalance of  mutual love and respect.  

3. (i) A morally-practical relationship is based on universal legislation.

a. Every morally-practical relationship between oneself and another person is representative of pure reason (27/451).

b. Pure reason includes free actions based on maxims in which universal legislation is appropriate (27/451).

4. Benevolence is a general love of mankind (28/452).

5. (i) Benevolence contains the principle of mutual love.

a. Love is the maxim of benevolence (25/449).

b. Benevolence is a practical love (27/451).

c. Mutual love is a practical love (25/449).  

d. Benevolence is a duty of all people towards one another (27/451). 

6. (i) Benevolence contains the principle of respect.

a. Respect is the maxim that limits one’s self esteem within the relationships between other people (25/449).

b. Respect directs one to compare the worth of oneself to the worth of another person (25/449).

c. Legislative reason includes oneself among every person (27/451).

1c. The duty of mutual benevolence is universally legislated (27/451).

2c. Actions appropriate for universal legislation cannot be selfish (27/451).

d. (i) Under universal law and the principle of respect, one can be benevolent to oneself and to other people.