Deontological Ethics Flashcards
What is deontological ethics based on?
It’s based on acting in accordance to duty and the rightness or wrongness of actions, not consequences
What does Kant believe ?
Believes that the highest form of good is good will and to have good will is to do ones duty, in which you perform actions that are morally required. For example helping someone cross the road
Believes that humans are free to make rational choices and that if we weren’t free, the possibility of making moral choices would be denied. Our ability to freely rationalise, or reason, is what distinguishes human from animals who lack this ability.
What is the categorical imperative
It’s a prescriptive guideline on behaviour. It’s absolutist (unquestionable) ethics. The categorical imperative helps us to know which actions are obligatory and which are forbidden. The categorical imperative is “do not act on any principle that cannot be universalised.”
What does Kant believe about moral laws ?
He believes that moral laws must be applied in all situations and to all rational beings. In order for a moral code to be followed it must be universalised
Strengths of deontological ethics?
It’s based on reason and there is clear criteria for what is moral
Shows respect for human life and treats everyone even minority’s, equally
There’s one rule for eye one which applies to all cultures
Most people recognise the idea of duty, it’s part of what it means to be human
Weaknesses of deontological ethics
Putting duty above everything ends seems cold and inhuman- there’s no place for actions undertaken out of love and compassion
Not everyone agrees that duty is the best motive
Not easy to apply in real life
Human nature to consider the consequences before acting- every action we take involves love and compassion as we are human creatures
Not everyone is capable of rational moral decision making
Only works if everyone does it- everyone must live in the kingdom of ends
What are the prima facie duties?
Ross identified 7 prima facie duties which are known through intuition and repay acts of generosity.
Ross believes that what is morally right isn’t always morally good such as hitting a child to discipline them
Nagel identified the phenomenon of moral luck which states when actions depend on factors beyond somebody’s control, we treat them as an object of moral judgement. E.g judging a drink driver who kills a child more harshly than a sober one.
Nagel suggests that intuition is correct but that luck will inevitably influence a persons moral standing.
