5.1 Kant (Deontology)

Question 1

Kant and reason

Answer 1

Part of a European enlightenment group, he wanted to bring religion and ethics within bounds of reason as reason is UNIVERSAL
Believed if ethics was based on reason, society would be harmonious in rationality

Question 2

What is the categorical imperative

Answer 2

Something humans have a duty to do (there are three formulations)

Question 3

The reasoning behind the categorical imperative

Answer 3

Humans are ‘rational agents’ so they are all equal and therefore should only act on principles that can be applied to everyone - Kant called these categorical imperatives : actions you have a duty to always do

Question 4

What is the hypothetical imperative

Answer 4

A moral obligation that applies only if one desires a specific goal (you should do x if you want y)

Question 5

First formulation of the categorical imperatives

Answer 5

“Act only in accordance with that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it become a universal law”

Question 6

Second formulation of the categorical imperative

Answer 6

“Act so that you treat humanity, whether in you own person or in that of another, always as an ends and never as a means only”

Question 7

Third formulation of the categorical imperative

Answer 7

“Act as if a legislating member in the universal kingdom of ends” - if everyone followed his ethics we would live in. A harmonious society, a kingdom of ends

Question 8

Duty and the good will

Answer 8

A good will is one with the right intention when performing a moral action, the only morally good motivation for doing an action is because its our duty - duty for duty’s sake

Question 9

The three postulates

Answer 9

3 things you must assume to be true for ethics to be based on reason:
1) god
2) immorality (of the soul in an afterlife), for ethics to work there must be justice, not served in this life so must be in another - reward in afterlife is happiness: ‘summum bonum’ highest good
3) free will, so we’re responsible

Question 10

Define deontology

Answer 10

The sense of duty; an ethical theory which holds intentions or unconditional duty are the basis for determining the rightness or wrongness of an action

Question 11

Give an example of a hypothetical imperative

Answer 11

E.g. if you go to bed early tonight, you can stay up late tomorrow

Question 12

What is a maxim?

Answer 12

A principle or rule to be followed e.g. ‘don’t eat too much cake’

Question 13

Give an example of a categorical imperative

Answer 13

Stop what you’re doing right now!

Question 14

State the second formulation of the categorical imperative

Answer 14

Act so that persons are always treated as ends, never means