Bentham and Kant

Question 1

What does the acronym Dr Ficep stand for and what does each word mean in accordance with the Hedonic Calculus (Bentham)?

Answer 1

D: Duration - How long does the pleasure last
R: Remoteness (Propinquity) - How soon will the pleasure happen
F: Fecundity - How likely the happiness is to lead to further happiness
I: Intensity - How strong the pleasure is
C: Certainty - How likely is it that the pleasure will happen
E: Extent - How far the happiness-giving effects of an action will spread
P: Purity - How free from pain the happiness is

Question 2

What is the utility principle (Bentham)?

Answer 2

An action’s morals are determined by its usefulness - if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number

Question 3

What are the Categorical Imperatives (Kant)?

Answer 3

Categorical Imperatives are commands that must not be disobeyed, as their good is intrinsic and deontological.

Question 4

What are the three main formulations of the Categorical Imperative (Kant)?

Answer 4

1. The Universal Law - Noone should do anything that they would not wish to see become a universal law
2. Treat Others as Ends in Themselves - Do not treat people as means to an end and use people instrumentally, rather you should treat them as ends in themselves. Otherwise this would be inhumane.
3. The Kingdom of Ends - One must imagine that you live in an ideal society even if you do not, and one should not conform to broken laws just because other people do.

Question 5

What does summum bonum mean (Kant)?

Answer 5

The ultimate good, that everyone must strive towards.

Question 6

What is Transcendental Idealism (Kant)?

Answer 6

Kant’s belief that reality is split into two parts:
* Moral truths (mathematics) exist in the noumenal (transcendent) realm
* Our discovery of the moral truths through the use of human reason exists in the phenomenal (empirical realm)

Question 7

What is the difference between Bentham and Kant’s theories?

Answer 7

Bentham
* Naturalist theory of morality
* Morality is based on pleasure and pain in this world (phenomena)
* Consequentalist
* People can be treated as a means to an end

Kant
* Non-naturalist theory of morality
* Morality exists in the noumena and not the phenomena
* Deontological
* People must only be treated as ends in themselves

Question 8

What are the three postulates (Kant)?

Answer 8

Three assumptions about the world that are based off belief in the summum bonum and the categorical imperative
* God
* Immortality
* Freedom

Question 9

What are the points made based on the compatibility of Kant’s theory with religious moral decision-making?

Answer 9

• Kant’s theory was to some extent religious (Kant was a theist and a dualist) => Idea of Transcendental Idealism
• Summum Bonum can be achieved eschatologically, which supports how we should strive towards the greatest good
• Two of Kant’s postulates are religious: God and immortality
• Kant would agree with Christian Deontologists that humans must be valued for their own sake, and not be used as a means to an end
• Kant’s principle of the universal law is similar to that of Jesus’ teachings about compassion for everyone and doing the right thing

Question 10

What quote supports the compatibility between Kant’s ethical theory and religious decision-making?

Answer 10

‘Do unto others as you would have them do to you’ - Jesus

Question 11

What are the points made based on the incompatibility of Kant’s theory with religious moral decision-making?

Answer 11

• Kant’s theory can be seen as secular, as it can be said to be in line with Enlightenment ideas of reason and autonomy. Therefore it doesn’t require support from religion.
• It can be said that Kant makes no reference to any scriptures as a moral authority for making moral decisions.
• Kant’s Categorical Imperative can be viewed as a cold and abstract theory about duty - rather than love which is what Jesus’ teachings are based on.