I Kant get this stupid thought out of my mind

"Act only in such a way that you can will that the maxim of your action should become a universal law." Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative. Apparently, as a Google search revealed, I've been mistaken for the better part of the past two decades, since I've cited it as "alway will that the maxim of your actions shall become a universal imperative," but close. I'm sure it sounds better in the original Klingon in either event.

What should spark this? An incident last week, when my wife called me for the umpteenth time "judgmental." Damn right I'm judgmental. It's hardwired into my DNA. But I have to say, coming from the wife, that criticism stings perhaps less than one might think.

Ages ago she and I took one of those libertarian political tests, where you answer a series of questions on economic and political issues, and you get rated based on where you stand - libertarian, protectionist, anarcho-syndicalist, soul-crushing totalitarian, etc., etc. What made this one particularly amusing was that the test's creator posted where he/she/it/they thought certain historical characters would fall. Over there in the soul-crushing totalitarian zone was Stalin, over yonder in the free markets / enslaved minds was Pinochet, and you had a host of other famous people scattered about the scales based on their perceived views on economic and political regulation. Among them was Gandhi. And then, way out there, in the left field bleachers, way past the world's most famous bespectacled Indian, was my wife.

The woman out-Gandhi'd Gandhi, for Christ's sake. How cool is that? Her tolerance and compassion would make Jesus - at least that Jesus who went hauling ass through the temple a-wailin' the crap out of the money lenders - blush.

So, when this woman calls me "judgmental" - well, hell yeah. Pass me the gavel and a black robe while you're at it. Of course I'm judgmental in comparison with her. EVERYONE's judgmental compared to her.

And a few days later it hit me. That damn Kant - I'm warped for life thanks to him. My guiding principle is the categorical imperative. It's cerebral, logical, a bit distancing, and nice - as a theory. Indeed, it insists on judgment and in a sense on being judgmental, I submit. My wife? She does indeed live by the principle of doing unto others as she would have done unto her. That's a lot more emotional, not necessarily logical, embracing, and nice - as a way to go about your life. It introduces an element of subjectivity - putting yourself in another's shoes to see the world as would that person - that certainly does not require one to carry a mental gavel.

I'll stick to my world view. I'd never ask her to change hers. I appreciate that she's made me revisit and think about an aspect of my world view that I have not pondered in a while. And, I admit, she's made me think about being a little more hesitant to reach for that mental gavel.