How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question

Kant was an 18th-century German philosopher who made significant contributions in the fields of epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics. In How to Be Perfect, Kant is primarily regarded as the chief figure of deontological ethics; Schur characterizes this sentence from his 1785 work, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, as perhaps the most famous in Western philosophy: “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law” (66). Known as the categorical imperative, this concept of duty to universal maxims is at the heart of Kant’s ethical system.

In addition to summarizing his theories and frequently applying Kantian analysis to various ethical issues, Schur characterizes Kant as a stern, routine-driven, humorless figure, prone to muttering disapproval while he watches from a distance. On one occasion, for instance, he refers to Kant as “that sniffing, unpleasable moral snob” (184). On other, Schur jokes, “People being wrong was Kant’s kink” (158). Schur also relays the rumor that Kant was so punctual that neighboring shopkeepers would set their watches by his departure time. While Schur leans into the humor associated with his portrayal of Kant, his vivid characterization also serves another purpose, offering readers a memorable, if cartoonish, caricature for them to imagine while puzzling through moral questions.