Deontology Flashcards
In this theory, the situation will be assessed based on the motivation of the moral agent. Whatever result may happen as consequence of the act is not included in this moral assessment. Thus, it is possible that though the consequence was not the desired result, or may result in something bad, still- the act can be considered good.
Kantian theory
For this theory, it would be unfair to attribute the consequences of the action on the moral agent because that was not within his control. The moral agent should not be blamed for bad consequence for as long as the act is done with good intention as guided by good will. It is emphasized here that a person should be morally judged only on things that are within his control, in short, those that he WILLED.
Kantian theory
the deontological theory asserts that it is possible for an action to be considered as morally good even if it results in bad consequences. What determines if the action is good or bad is the WILL.
Kantian theory
An ___________________ is one that is able to stand on its own, and this autonomy is what makes our will good.
autonomous will
An ___________________ is one that is able to stand on its own, and this autonomy is what makes our will good.
autonomous will
our moral actions is based on what we try to achieve and not what we have actually achieved. our goodness is the result of our efforts and not on the result of that effort. The success and failure of those efforts is not all because of the action of the moral agent, thus it cannot wholly be accredited to that moral agent. An action resulting outside the control of the moral agent is not within his will, therefore cannot be a factor in the determination of an act’s morality.
Good Will
The will is considered good if it is done by free moral agents whose actions will not succumb to ______________. As moral agents, the will must be able to control the ________________ and this makes our will autonomous.
If I allow my will to be constantly controlled by my desire, then I fail to control my will and thus, failed to assert my action as a moral agent.
outside forces
if the mouse gives in after promising its mom not to eat cheese, there would be a failure of the test of ________________.
autonomous will
Kantian theory
Categorical imperative test
- Can the act be applied universally? (the universalizability test)
- in doing the act, is man treated as an end?
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
Kantian theory
- Promises are made to be broken, hence it is ok not to keep it when one has a headache.
- Promises should be kept even if one does not feel like doing so.
Which one passed the universalizability test?
- “Keep your promise” passes the universalizability test, and the more it is not submitted to an external factor, the more autonomous it becomes.
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
We can and we should control our ____. Once we do that, we behave as how moral agents should and that gives us dignity and respect.
Will
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
An ________________ suggests that every moral agent is capable of making a rational ethical decision. As a moral agent, one becomes worthy of respect and dignity.
autonomous will
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
Kantian Theory 2nd test
Do we treat other people as an end in themselves rather than as means?
Do we use people?
Does our act devalue the ability of the human being to think rationally for himself?
Do we allow him to think on his own by giving him the truth?
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
Kantian Theory 2nd test
Suppose somebody asks you if the person was hired because he did so badly during the job interview and that there is no chance of ever hiring this person. However, since you don’t want to hurt him, you answered this person with:
“Im sorry you did fine during the interview but somebody else was already chosen for the job. You may apply again if the position becomes vacant.”
Does this pass the Kantian theory’s second test?
This fails the second test.
The interview was not treated as an end.
The withholding of the truth is a devaluing of the interviewee’s capacity to control his will.
The deprivation of important facts, made the interviewee, susceptible to outside forces that will now cloud his judgment.
In this case, there was no respect given and the person was treated as a means rather than an end.
Not telling the whole truth prevented this person from becoming a moral agent because he was not allowed to decide and think for himself. This essentially deprived his will of autonomy.
2 different kinds of rights
Legal
Moral
what is legal is not always moral
kind of right
A right created under the law. It can be based in the constitution or a statute. It is usually the crystallization of the tradition, values and what is generally regarded as ethical and moral within a specific political area and recognized by a duly authorized authority (which in most cases would be the state and its citizens). They might be loosely termed also as codified moral rights.
Legal
kind of right
A qualified voter has the right to vote provided he/she does not have any of the disqualifications.
Legal
kind of right
Rights that arise from being part of a social community which recognizes the inherent worth of a human being to one another. It is brought out from the basic respect and value one gives to another person.
Moral
kind of right
“A person has the moral right to expect others to give her credit for her works.”
Moral
does LYING pass the Kantian theory test?
under Kantian theory, lying is always wrong. There is no situation when lying will be considered morally right because it fails the two tests.
Slavery - it was a long standing practice to buy and own a human being as if it’s a commodity bereft of personhood.
Does slavery pass the Kantian test?
it fails the Kantian test. History has shown us vast examples of acts at one point as legal but will not pass the scrutiny of moral test.
it is a classic example of treating people as things (means) and certainly not as an end. Laws that demean and devalue other human beings have been recognized under so many legal systems but they should never be considered as moral.
Informed Consent: Rights of the dying and rights of the dead
A patient’s life and organs will not be sacrificed for the sake of saving ten others. Thats why, a patient should be given an informed consent stating that they are allowing themselves to undergo such procedures and tests.
Does this pass the deontological test?
the informed consent passed the deontological/Kantian test. The information gives freedom to the moral agent to choose his action based on the fact laid down before him. This gives his will autonomy and can easily become universalizable without contradiction as respect is given to the patient and his right to his body.
AKA Deontological theory, focuses on duty as the primary factor for determining if an action is good or not. For one to be considered as good, 2 tests have to be passed.
- The universalizability test
- treatment of humans as an end and not as a means.
A person has made the morally correct action if the action responds positively to both questions. In that case, we then have the duty to do that act.
Kantian theory
must be obeyed, unconditional
categorical
the target of an action. the ultimate reason for doing.
End
the things used to achieve an end
means
