So I'm reading Iddo Landau's "Finding meaning in an imperfect world" for the second time and I came across a section, very early in the book, in which the author makes a great argument about how you shouldn't be cruel to yourself.

On page 40, he says "Cruelty is one of the worst evils one can engage in. (...) It is morally forbidden to be cruel to any person or animal, and since one, too, is a person, it is equally forbidden to be cruel to oneself."

He then goes on to refer how Kant brought the bottom that we have moral obligations towards ourselves and not just others.

The idea that, just because we are ourselves it doesn't make it ok to be cruel to ourselves is very interesting to me. Does anyone know of any reference of article or book that discusses this a bit more at length?

Edit: to be clear, I'm referring mostly to how we talk to ourselves. Some people will often say mean/cruel things to themselves like "I'm worthless", or "I'm a good for nothing piece of #*@&!"

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ObscureMemes69420 t1_iujcljx wrote on October 31, 2022 at 7:38 PM

#399,075

Im a good for nothing piece of shit, what do I know?

minimalist_coach t1_iujfw93 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 8:00 PM

#400,385

Reform your inner mean girl by Amy Ahlers is about that negative self -alk and how to become friends with that part of your personality, it is just trying to keep you safe after all.

Hamfiter t1_iujresg wrote on October 31, 2022 at 9:19 PM

#405,018

It is nice to hear from intelligent people like you. I would have never heard this without you spending the time to post. I makes complete sense, thank you

_AnnualObligation_ t1_iujvu7g wrote on October 31, 2022 at 9:51 PM

#406,885

Replying to ObscureMemes69420 (#399,075)

Yeah, should bad people be nice to themselves, or do they deserve their self hatred? Does the advice to be kind to yourself assume that you're a good person?

kyklon_anarchon t1_iuk2oim wrote on October 31, 2022 at 10:45 PM

#410,156

actually, Kant's Metahpysics of Ethics [the text where he expands on the duties towards oneself] is quite accessible, unlike his Critiques. maybe a little boring even -- and yes, it requires some attentive reading -- but you can do it. and you would be in a better position to appreciate this stuff.

a version of it is freely available on project gutenberg -- https://www.gutenberg.org/files/5684/5684-h/5684-h.htm