In this excerpt from 'Idea for a Universal History', Kant questions one of the paradoxes that constitutes human nature and conditions its human relationships: its 'unsociable sociability'. He suggests that the desire for life in society does not respond only to the interest of man, understood simply as the fact of being safe, but also as the desire to develop his 'natural dispositions', that is to say these faculties (for example technical, scientific, artistic...).
Extract
[...] Idea for a Universal History, 'Fourth Proposition' - Kant (1784) In the first place, Kant highlights the'one of the paradoxes, one of the 'antagonisms' inherent in human nature, which characterizes its relationships with others: human beings are characterized by an 'unsociable sociability'. So, what exactly does Kant mean by this oxymoron? Part « insociable sociability', Kant refers to one of the aspects of the duality of human beings. On the one hand, he desires to maintain relationships with others. Human needs do not stop at physical needs. [...]
[...] As we might have thought A priori, the unsociable nature of man is therefore not so negative. It certainly presents a challenge for society, but it makes the latter possible and allows humanity to appreciate it. Is the unsociability of man constructive and positive in other respects? In a final moment, KantDemonstrate that the unsociable nature of man is positive and necessary to society, since it allows the development of its 'dispositions' and therefore its evolution and that of humanity as a whole (by progressive perfectioning). [...]
[...] If life in societyIf life in society has been the fertile ground for its development, human beings are also driven by desires that go against living together. Their desires do not always go in the direction of the general interest and man will then tend to prefer his own interest, that is, the realization of his desires regardless of others. The problem, the source of conflicts, comes from the fact that each human being tends to have this behavior and the realization of their desires comes into conflict. [...]
[...] and that the maintenance of life in society is threatened. Kant distinguishesThus, in this first paragraph, Kant enunciates one of the paradoxes of human beings: life in society is favorable to its development, he desires it and yet, he puts it in danger by his inclination to put his own interest and decisions before the common interest. Is this paradox only dangerous or does it have a constructive aspect? In a second time, Kant sayshe defends the fact that the 'unsociability' of man, that is to say his inclination going against and threatening his life in society, is in fact constructive. [...]
[...] Finally, Kant argues that it is this type of interest-based relationships that culture draws its origin from, that is to say the transition from the state of nature ('coarseness'), to civilized and cultural life. Kant said'He then attacks the myth of the Arcadian Shepherds, which would correspond to a golden age, a blessed era where human beings were innocent and ignorant and where they lived happily, in peace and in perfect mutual contentment and love'. This ideal can leave one dreaming. Nevertheless, the philosopher's argument consists in bringing the level of human consciousness in this state to that of the animal. [...]
