"Wer den Zweck will, will (so fern die Vernunft auf seine Handlungen entscheidenden Einfluss hat) auch das unentbehrlich notwendige Mittel, das in seiner Gewalt ist. ''

As Julian says, this isn't quite right (and I quote him)

Note, however, that Kant's remark is not quite correct. As von Wright observes, even if you, say, intend to travel to London and a necessary means for you to do so is to take the bus, it does not follow that you intend to take the bus, even if ``reason has a decisive influence" on you. You may, for instance, not believe that taking the bus is a necessary means to go to London. Therefore, Kant's remark must be adjusted slightly. He should have said "who wills the end, wills the means which he believes to be indispensably necessary". (On this point see John Broome's ``Instrumental Reasoning", p. 197).

Return to Thomas Forster's home page