The Idea of Freedom 159a way that they represent the expression of the free spirit.
My actions, too, as objects of perception, are subject to
such changes.
There is a possibility for the human perceptual object to
transform itself, just as within the plant seed there lies the
possibility of becoming a whole plant. The plant will
transform itself because of the objective lawfulness lying
within it. Humans remain in an incomplete state if they do
not take in hand the transformative substance within
themselves, and transform themselves through their own
power. Nature makes human beings merely natural crea-
tures; society makes them law-abiding actors; but they
can only makethemselves intofree beings. At a certain
stage of their development, nature releases human beings
from her chains; society carries this development up to a
further point; but human beings must give themselves the
final polish.
The standpoint of free morality does not claim that the
free spirit is the only form in which a human being can ex-
ist. Free morality sees in free spirituality only the final
stage of human evolution. This is not to deny that acting
in accordance with norms has its justification as one stage
in evolution. But it cannot be acknowledged as the abso-
lute standpoint of morality. The free spirit overcomes
such norms in that free spirits do not merely feel com-
mandments as motives, but order their actions according
to their impulses (intuitions).
Kant says, “Duty! You exalted, mighty name, you who
contain nothing lovable, nothing ingratiatingly agreeable,
but who demand submission, (you who) establish a