Final answer:
Kant asserts that our sovereign master should be our own rational capacity and good will, which lead us to act morally. The categorical imperative serves as our guide, ensuring that our actions can be universalized and that we treat others with inherent dignity. Rationality and moral duty, therefore, are the authorities in our lives according to Kant.
Step-by-step explanation:
Immanuel Kant's Concept of Our 'Sovereign Master'
According to Immanuel Kant, our sovereign master should be our capability to act rationally, which is intricately linked to our ability to exercise good will. Kant believed that humans are distinguished from other animals by our capacity to think and act rationally. This rational capacity grants us freedom and the ability to act morally by adhering to moral laws or maxims that we discover a priori. The ultimate guide for our actions is the categorical imperative, which states that one should "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law." In essence, an action is moral if it can be applied universally. Therefore, we achieve our worth and dignity through rational and moral actions, establishing our value above all other things and affirming our responsibility to act from duty.
Furthermore, Kant emphasized that in seeking to achieve our ends, we should never treat others merely as a means, but always as ends in themselves. This reflects his view that human beings should be treated with inherent dignity due to their rational nature. Thus, our interactions with others must be guided by respect and the moral law, rather than solely by the pursuit of outcomes. In conclusion, Kant posits that the mastery of our rational will and moral duty stands as the supreme authority in our decision-making, and this should guide our actions as rational agents.