Immanuel Kant (1724–1804), a prominent German philosopher of the Enlightenment, raised critical concerns regarding the morality of children shaped by rewards and punishments. He famously stated, “If you punish a child for being naughty, and reward him for being good, he will do right merely for the sake of the reward.” This highlights the risk of fostering a mindset focused on personal gain rather than moral duty. Kant argued that when children are conditioned to associate good behavior with rewards, they may struggle to act ethically in a world where such rewards are inconsistent. His broader moral philosophy asserts that true morality should be based on duty and an internal sense of responsibility, rather than external incentives. Kant's critiques extend to education, where he believed that teaching should emphasize understanding the reasons behind moral actions, rather than simply following rules for rewards. His ideas remain pertinent in contemporary discussions about parenting and educational approaches, warning that a morality reliant on rewards may falter when those incentives are absent.