basics

Question 1

important ideas

Answer 1

Human reason in determining moral truth, individual freedom and autonomy, a sense of duty or obligation to act morally.

Question 2

what is good will?

Answer 2

only pure good. source of all moral value

• Many things good is happiness, intelligence or money but it can be sometimes bad
  Ie someone may gain happiness from torture

Question 3

end in themselves?

Answer 3

• For Kant, no end that we pursue can be thought as morally good in itself.
• Happiness, intelligence or money can only be good when accompanied or result from a good will.

Question 4

sake of duty

Answer 4

• A good will is one which acts for the sake of duty.
  Willing the action, you are not motivated by a particular end or goal but by the duty to do the right thing with accordance with moral law.
• It is the motive not the consequence that is key in assigning moral worth, because of this, this ethic is labelled as deontological.

Question 5

criticism- Is good will always good?

Answer 5

• Eg well meaning billy tries to help everyone.
• But he is very clumsy and keeps accidently hurting people and breaking things as he helps others crops the road or carries their bags.
• After a while people might question whether billy’s undeniably good will is such a good thing after all.