In Enrich Maria Remarque’s novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, the veil of mystery shrouding war is lifted, presenting the horrors of WW1 and the lasting impression it left on the soldiers who fought in it. Throughout the novel, there was a fascinating topic of brotherhood that can be analyzed through a Kantian lens. In particular, the quote “Love is a matter of feeling, not of will or volition, and I cannot love because I will to do so, still less because I ought” from the Doctrine of Virtue will be used to evaluate the loving of another through life and death experiences.

Although the care for each other is clear from the start, everlasting bonds are formed as the novel progresses. In particular, the “iron youth” bands together with the simple goal of keeping their sanity after being torn away from everything they know and dropped into daily carnage. 

At first, the children wince at injuries and amputations, thinking only of the material gain from the falling of their comrades, but slowly with death at every turn, Paul and his comrades begin to appreciate all life. With the war raging on, the soldiers long to return home, but also now know nothing other than the terrors that war brings. This dilemma leaves them with two terrible choices: leave their brothers to die on the battlefield and attempt to remake their lives, or fight and provide safety to their comrades. In this case, Kant’s philosophy would encourage staying on the battlefield with one’s brothers, as “Act[ing] in such a way that you treat humanity…never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end”, but in this case deserting in the interest of saving one’s own life is completely acceptable as well. Afterall, nobody can fault another for wanting to live on. 

However, the young soldiers begin to mature, learning that the easiest way to survive is to lean on one another from time to time. In particular, Katczinsky is seen multiple times providing food to his starving comrades. Kant’s philosophy would approve, because this is a “matter of feeling, not of will or violation”, as Katczinsky had no obligation to help out his comrades, but did it solely out of the desire that they return home alive all together once the war was over. Later in the novel, Katczinsky and Paul eat fresh roasted geese under the stars, simply appreciating the simple joys in life that their fallen comrades cannot.

As more soldiers narrowly avoid death, their appreciation for those they fought alongside grows. This is clearly seen in Himmelstoss, the man notorious for being the “strictest” drill sergeant, who softens on those he once brutally punished for impudence. After serving on the front lines with those he trained, instead of forcing them to snap to attention every time they walk past him, he gives them a safe job for a few days, and gives them a much needed break from the constant bombardment of artillery that Paul’s group had to endure day after day.

In conclusion, the concept of brotherhood stemming from narrowly escaping death can be viewed through the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, as the soldier’s actions treat one another as a means to the end, instead of just an end to a means. Although some actions cannot be universalized, in violation of Kant’s beliefs, most of the time the soldiers act to the benefit of one another, and show love that is not of “will or violation” but out of true compassion and care towards the livelihood of each individual. Ultimately, while the ethical dilemmas of how far one should go to protect those in a time of crisis are hazy, different interpretations of each action can lead to different views on the same outcomes.