produce a will that is good in itself; and a will is good only if it is motivated by duty. Good will, as has been said, is for Kant the only thing that is good without qualification. It is not what it achieves that constitutes the goodness of a good will; good will is good in itself alone. Even if, by some special disfavour of destiny, or by the niggardly endowment of stepmotherly nature, this will is entirely lacking in power to carry out its intentions, if by its utmost effort it still accomplishes nothing, and only good will is left… even then it would still shine like a jewel for its own sake as something which has its full value in itself (Kant, 1991, 394). Good will is the highest good and the condition of all other goods, and good will is within our power, while happiness is not. Happiness is an impossible goal to pursue, because no finite being, however powerful and insightful, can say definitely and consistently what he really wants. Riches may bring with them anxiety, long life may turn out to be nothing but long misery. Only an omniscient being could determine with certainty what would make him truly happy.
