--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the physical constitution of an…" description: "\"“In the physical constitution of an organized being, that is, a being adapted suitably to the purposes of life, we assume it as a fundamental principle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/immanuel-kant-532_animals_in-the-physical-constitution-of-an-organ_1852689.jpg" --- # In the physical constitution of an organized being, that… ![“In the physical constitution of an organized being, that is, a being adapted suitably to the purposes of life, we assume it as a fundamental principle that no organ for any purpose will be found but what is also the fittest and best adapted for that purpose. Now in a being which has reason and a…” quote by Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/immanuel-kant-532_animals_in-the-physical-constitution-of-an-organ_1852689.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/immanuel-kant-532_animals_in-the-physical-constitution-of-an-organ_1852689.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/immanuel-kant-532_animals_in-the-physical-constitution-of-an-organ_1852689.jpg) > ““In the physical constitution of an organized being, that is, a being adapted suitably to the purposes of life, we assume it as a fundamental principle that no organ for any purpose will be found but what is also the fittest and best adapted for that purpose. Now in a being which has reason and a will, if the proper object of nature were its conservation, its welfare, in a word, its happiness, then nature would have hit upon a very bad arrangement in selecting the reason of the creature to carry out this purpose. For all the actions which the creature has to perform with a view to this purpose, and the whole rule of its conduct, would be far more surely prescribed to it by instinct, and that end would have been attained thereby much more certainly that it ever can be by reason. Should reason have been communicated to this favored creature over and above, it must only have served it to contemplate the happy constitution of its nature, to admire it, to congratulate itself thereon, and to feel thankful for it to the beneficent cause, but not that it should subject its desires to that weak and delusive guidance, and meddle bunglingly with the purpose of nature. In a word, nature would have taken care that reason should not break forth into practical exercise, nor have the presumption, with its weak insight, to think out for itself the plan of happiness and the means of attaining it. Nature would not only have taken on herself the choice of the ends but also of the means, and with wise foresight would have entrusted both to instinct.”” [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Kant argues that if reason were the primary guide for human happiness, instinct would be overridden, leading to misguided choices; nature prefers instinct for survival and welfare. **In simple terms:** Reason can mislead happiness; instinct is natural. Key Takeaway Trust instinct for basic needs, use reason wisely. Themes philosophy human nature reason instinct ethics Mood reflective critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - survival decisions - moral dilemmas - personal fulfillment - policy design Key Concepts teleology practical reason natural law Questions to Reflect On - Should reason always dominate instinct? - When is instinct sufficient? A Different Perspective Reason may overcomplicate simple solutions, causing paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Constitution Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-nature-1510637/) [Darwinism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darwinism/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Organ Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organ-purpose-2440646/) [Physical Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-constitution-2440647/) [Purpose Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-nature-1006368/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-reason/) [Social darwinism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-darwinism/) ## Related quotes > [We should perceive that man's period of historical existence, a period so short that his physical constitution has not been altered in the slightest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/we-should-perceive-that-man-s-period-of-historical-existence-a-period/) [H. 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The people who were supposedly the leaders of the social Darwinist movement never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/there-was-no-intellectual-movement-in-american-history-called-social/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [Since the universe is stupid, it's no wonder that social Darwinism tends to support, promote and finance the evolution of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-brown/since-the-universe-is-stupid-it-s-no-wonder-that-social-darwinism/) [William C. 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Wherein lies our hope? 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Dare to use your own understanding!is thus the motto of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/enlightenment-is-the-liberation-of-man-from-his-self-caused-state-of/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [The ideal of the supreme being is nothing but a regulative principle of reason which directs us to look upon all connection in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/the-ideal-of-the-supreme-being-is-nothing-but-a-regulative-principle/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“Jeg skal alltid handle slik at den regelen jeg handler etter kunne gjelde som allmenn lov.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/jeg-skal-alltid-handle-slik-at-den-regelen-jeg-handler-etter-kunne/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Deaths, births, and marriages, considering how much they are separately dependent on the freedom of the human will, should seem to be subject to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/deaths-births-and-marriages-considering-how-much-they-are-separately/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [It is precisely in knowing its limits that philosophy consists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/it-is-precisely-in-knowing-its-limits-that-philosophy-consists/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [A society that is not willing to demand a life of somebody who has taken somebody else’s life is simply immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/a-society-that-is-not-willing-to-demand-a-life-of-somebody-who-has/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [. . . as to moral feeling, this supposed special sense, the appeal to it is indeed superficial when those who cannot think believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/as-to-moral-feeling-this-supposed-special-sense-the-appeal-to-it-is/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) [Explore all 476 Immanuel Kant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) ## More Animals quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. 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I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) [Browse all 6,813 Animals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In the physical constitution of an organized being, that is, a being adapted suitably to the purposes of life, we assume it as a fundamental principle that no organ for any purpose will be found but what is also the fittest and best adapted for that purpose. Now in a being which has reason and a will, if the proper object of nature were its conservation, its welfare, in a word, its happiness, then nature would have hit upon a very bad arrangement in selecting the reason of the creature to carry out this purpose. For all the actions which the creature has to perform with a view to this purpose, and the whole rule of its conduct, would be far more surely prescribed to it by instinct, and that end would have been attained thereby much more certainly that it ever can be by reason. Should reason have been communicated to this favored creature over and above, it must only have served it to contemplate the happy constitution of its nature, to admire it, to congratulate itself thereon, and to feel thankful for it to the beneficent cause, but not that it should subject its desires to that weak and delusive guidance, and meddle bunglingly with the purpose of nature. In a word, nature would have taken care that reason should not break forth into practical exercise, nor have the presumption, with its weak insight, to think out for itself the plan of happiness and the means of attaining it. 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