Deontology Flashcards
How can the nature of deontology be described? Elaborate.
Absolutist nature - right is ALWAYS prior to a good outcome. Therefore, moral value is placed on the adherence of rules or laws that have been placed in society which aid us in decision making. Based on reason, not inclination - apriori knowledge.
Where is responsibility placed in deontology? Explain with an example
The individual’s responsibility for avoiding wrongdoing in accordance with their duty is emphasised over intervening to help/stop others.
Stealing to feed your starving children would not be justified by either the consequence or motivation - you still broke the law! Kantian ethics emphasises the importance of individuals fulfilling our duty
How does Davis describe Deontology?
In 3 qualities;
- Negatively formulated - written in the form ‘do not’
- Narrowly framed and bounded - they only refer to very specific actions.
- Narrowly directed - directed at the agent’s actions, rather than at the consequences.
What impact does Davis’ qualities have? (Deont.)
Davis claims these qualities distinguishes between acts and omissions. If you act and break a rule - it is wrong but if you do not act and it brings harm, you have not done anything wrong.
How is deontology universal?
Examples?
Established laws apply to all therefore wholly reflective of society and easy to follow.
DCT - NO ONE is above the will of god. Kant’s guidelines are called CIs so that they do apply to all.
What is Kant’s use of the good will?
What IS it?
The Good Will is the starting point for Kant’s theory. It is the only thing that can be good, in and of itself. He therefore rejects any other motives – happiness, courage, sympathy – on the grounds that they can be sometimes be put to bad uses.
A good will is a will to do your duty.
Finish the statement ‘Even though acting through a good will…’
Even though acting through a good will might produce harm or might produce nothing it must be followed at all costs, ‘it is good through its willing alone’.
What does Kant say about duty?
Only the action which springs from duty can be classified as a moral act, or morally worthy. This doesn’t mean that acting from being nice, for example, is morally bad. It just falls outside the domain of what Kant classifies as moral
How does Kant utilise the example of the grocer?
A grocer keeps his prices low so he keeps a good reputation yet this is still not morally good despite is beneficial outcome as he is just simply conforming, not behaving morally because he feels he ought to but because he wants to have a decent reputation. Therefore his motivation is actually selfish and not fulfilling his duty.
Good exterior, bad interior.
What are the categorical imperatives?
The Categorical Imperative is a deontological rule or guideline which tells me whether my possible actions might be good. Called categorical because their function is to command us on how to act irrespective of our interests or desires. Therefore absolute; binding on us, irrespective of our desires or our situation.
Explain Categorical Imperative 1
Universalisability. Kant says that to determine if a maxim truly has “good will” we should ask ourselves whether we would want others to act in the same way. If the answer is no; then we are in a contradiction. This is because it goes against our reason and good will; this makes it immoral.
Explain Categorical Imperative 2
Treat people as ends in themselves rather than a means to an end.
Explain Categorical Imperative 3
Kant asks us to imagine a world where the laws we live by are universal and derived from reasoning and base our behaviour on that. It emphasises that humans are social animals/do not work alone and need to use reasoning to enable a society to be created where all people are of equal value.
Why is ‘moral breathing room’ a strength of deontology? Who said that?
Argued by Davis as they claim that deontologists don’t need to worry about trying to predict the consequences of an action - one of the main problems with consequentialist theories. This means that as long as an action does not violate a law/rule, one can act as they like.
Why does Nietzsche criticise deontology?
Nietzsche claims people like having moral autonomy and to an extent freedom. Deontology completely restricts such possibilities by its use of duties. Further emphasised by the idea that following deontology and only doing what our duties were, many people may be ignored or tragedies may happen.
