Deontology

Question 1

What are the basic principles of Kantian ethics?

Answer 1

• deontological approach
• to do one’s duty is to obey the moral law
• we are only obliged to do that which we can do
• main aim of life is to achieve sunnam bonum
• postulates existence of God

Question 2

How can we know Kant’s moral law?

Answer 2

Through reason. It is synthetic, so cannot definitely be proved.

Question 3

What does Kant say about good will and duty?

Answer 3

• highest form of good is good will
• duty is good in itself, consequences are not important
• we are free moral agents so can choose our duty

Question 4

What is the categorical imperative?

Answer 4

1) only act on a maxim that you would be willing to universalise
2) do not treat humans as a means to an end
3) act as if you live in a kingdom of ends, so must assume that everybody will not treat humans as means to an end

Question 5

Strengths of Kantian ethics?

Answer 5

• follows clear cut moral principles that apply to everyone
• respects human life
• acknowledges morality to be more than preference
• moral value of an action is about its intrinsic worth as oppose to desired consequences

Question 6

Weaknesses of Kantian ethics?

Answer 6

• defies sacrifice of men in war, so current political leaders couldn’t obey Kant
• no solutions with conflicts of duty
• are two moral dilemmas ever identical?
• you couldn’t tell a lie for the greater good
• Ward- to not treat people as means to an end, we must consider what the end would be- elements of teleological rather than deontological