Between Beautiful and Moral Action

In this paper, the author reflects on Immanuel Kant’s distinction between beautiful and moral action, and its influence on Arne Næss’s ecological thought. By referring to Næss’s interpretation of Kant’s moral philosophy, and especially his lesser-known writing An Attempt at Some Reflections on Optimism (German: Versuch einiger Betrachtungen über den Optimismus, 1759), the author presents the thesis that Kant – although it does not seem so at first glance – plays an important role in Næss’s environmental philosophy (i.e., Ecosophy T) and that his moral philosophy represents solid foundations for articulating one’s own ecosophies. This prompted the author to ponder about (I) the depth of Kant’s influence on Næss, (II) Kantian roots of deep ecology, and (III) Kantian contributions to deep-ecological thinking. In doing so, the author also outlined a Kantian ecosophy – by using some of the most important concepts of Kant’s moral philosophy (e.g., duty, intrinsic value, categorical imperative, moral law, moral autonomy, moral development, and humanity as an end in itself). Finally, as a result of this discussion, the author concluded that Kant’s and Næss’s philosophical theories and worldviews – regardless of their differences – agree at least on one point: human beings could and should make a difference by acting morally and/or beautifully.