Deontological Ethics

Question 1

Deontological Approach

Answer 1

deon = duty
Advocate: Kant
Actions and rules are morally right/wrong in themselves, independent of their consequences in life.
Good person = person who acts from right intentions & motives
Assumption: people are free (to choose) and reasonable entities

Question 2

Kant’s approach

Answer 2

Assumption: ability of reason distinguished between sensible world of appearances and intelligible world of concepts.
Principle: the good will, i.e. respect for persons on basis of pure reason in the intelligible world

Question 3

Why The Good Will is used as starting point (Kant)

Answer 3

• not teleological approach, since we are not in full control of consequences
• character cannot be the basis to measure an ethical person either, since it highly depends on the people we are surrounded with

Question 4

Main Features of the Good Will

Answer 4

• good will is not something that humans desire/wish
• the good will = intention behind every action, is the highest moral thing/”good”
  Characteristics:
  1) Purity
  2) Freedom
  3) Based on human reason

Question 5

Purity

Answer 5

truly moral actions cannot be connected with motives of self-interest
- but self-interest can be alleged in every action

Question 6

Freedom

Answer 6

it follows the principles of own choosing

• only because we are free, we can decide to act morally
• human tendency to give away freedom for comfort
• have to actively avoid this tendency

Question 7

Human Reason

Answer 7

Mental ability to reason distinguishes human being from other creatures.

• humans have to act according to a different kind of law
• all beings in the intelligible world will come to the same moral laws

Question 8

Two kinds of Duties - Imperatives

Answer 8

1) Hypothetical Imperative: action as a means to an end. If you want x do y
2) Categorical imperative: action per se. Do z with no ifs and/or buts e.g. “Be friendly”

Question 9

Formulas of the categorical imperative

Answer 9

1) Act only on that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law
2) Always treat the humanity in a person as and end and never as a means merely
3) So act as if you were a member of an ideal kingdom of ends in which you were both subject and sovereign at the same time.

Question 10

Explanation 1st Formula

Answer 10

• What would happen if our maxim were a universal law,
• if making the maxim a universal law results in a logical contradiction, it violates the categorical imperative (think in terms of concepts)

Question 11

Explanation 2nd formula

Answer 11

Always treat the humanity in a person as an end and never as a means merely

• one person cannot use another simply to satisfy his or her own interests
• emphasizes on the dignity of humans, but similar to first

Question 12

Business context 2nd formula

Answer 12

• respect for persons does not prohibit commercial transactions, when both parties benefit.
• business organizations and practices should contribute to the development of human rational and moral capacities

Question 13

2nd Forumla

Meaningful Work

Answer 13

• worker should have opportunity to exercise autonomy
• worker should be enabled to develop rational capacities
• meaningful work does not interfere with a worker’s moral development

Question 14

Difference of CA to The Golden Rule

Answer 14

“Do others as you will have them to”

- can be categorized as a hypothetical imperative (if you want x, do y)

Question 15

Explanation 3rd formula

Answer 15

• organizational structures must treat the humanity in persons with dignity and respect
• the rules governing the organization must be rules that can be endorsed by everyone in it
• corporation as moral community

Question 16

3rd Formula Business Context

Answer 16

• the firm should consider the interests of all the affected stakeholders in every decision
• it must establish procedures to ensure that relations among stakeholders are governed by rules of justice
• society provides infrastructure and educated workforce, thus corporations have a duty of beneficence to society in return

Question 17

Summary: Deontological Approach

Answer 17

• any business practice that weights money against human dignity is immoral
• more ethical forms for society and business can be developed with Kant’s ideas
• Kant admits that hypothetical reasoning is predominant in business practice
• Kant’s focus: moral intentions without reference to the consequences, e.g. environment