Final answer:
Kantian freedom is not merely the ability to do as one desires but is tied to rationality and moral autonomy. True freedom involves acting in accordance with moral laws and out of duty, not just personal desire or external compulsion.
Step-by-step explanation:
For Kant, freedom is not simply the ability to do whatever one desires. This is false. Kantian freedom is closely tied to rationality and autonomy, the ability to act according to one's own reason and moral laws rather than being driven by mere desire or external compulsion. True freedom, in Kant's terms, is the capacity to use one's free will in alignment with moral duty, which he defines as following the categorical imperative - acting only in ways that one could also will to be a universal law.
The concept of freedom of choice or freedom of deliberation is also crucial for moral responsibility. In the context of freedom versus determinism, freedom aligns with having free will or making choices autonomously. The metaphor of an amusement park ride suggests that while the sensation of steering might feel like freedom, the predetermined track implies that our actions are not truly free. However, Kant would argue that as moral agents, our actions are free when they are guided by rational will and unconditional good, rather than conditional outcomes or external forces.
In summary, Kant's view of freedom is nuanced and is rooted in morality and the exercise of practical reason, rather than an unrestricted ability to satisfy whims. The presence of internal freedom to adhere to moral laws is Kant's measure of true autonomy and liberty.