Ethics-Kantian ETHICS Flashcards
Immanuel Kant
German Philosopher-believed there were ABSOLUTE MORAL RULES
His ethical system KANTIAN ETHICS did not rely on GOD
KANTIAN Ethics focuses
Does not rely Heavily on God
Heavily ABSOLUTE
Deontological- interested in RIGHT ACTIONS not RIGHT OUTCOMES
Good will
The only truly intrinsically good thing having good motives and intentions
Kant Good Will
Kant believed the only truly GOOD THING, is GOOD WILL-HAVING GOOD INTENTIONS
ALL other things such as COURAGE or WEALTH are always Good DEPENDING on the SITUATION
Kant Argues even if we are PREVENTED from CARRYING out our INTENTIONS: all that matters is AIMING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
‘Good will SHINES LIKE A PRECIOUS JEWL’
Duty
The action that is morally required
Kant Duty
Kant Believed- Doing the RIGHT THING out of SELF-INTEREST is NOT DUTY
Doing the RIGHT THING due to INCLINATION( because we feel like it ) is NOT DUTY
Duty is DOING THE RIGHT THING REGARDLESS Of HOW WE FEEL about the OUTCOME -ABSOLUTE
Kant Duty Example
A policewoman’s DUTY is to INTERVENE when a CRIME is COMMITTED regardless of whether she thinks SHE WILL SUCCEED in CATCHING THE CRIMINAL or whether SHE FEELS LIKE IT
Hypothetical Imperative
A MORAL OBLIGATION that is DEPENDENT upon desiring the GOAL in QUESTION
Autonomy
Literally ‘self-ruling’. The belief that we are FREE and ABLE to make our OWN DECISIONS
Principle Autonomy Kant
Kant believed that there are ABSOLUTE MORAL DUTIES.
He believed that Humans have RATIONALITY and are ABLE TO WORK OUT THESE RULES
Maxim
Another word for MORAL RULES OR PRINCIPLES. They are the things that we ACT UPON
Maxim Kant
Kant argued that whenever we are carrying out an action we are acting upon a maxim
Maxim Kant Example
If someone steal a chip from your plate without your permission
Their MAXIM could be ‘ TAKE OTHER PEOPLE FOOD FROM THEIR PLATE WITHOUT ASKING’
Hypothetical Imperative Kant
The COMMAND that we would FOLLOW in ORDER to ACHIEVE an END RESULT
Hypothetical Imperative Example
teacher gives the instruction to do your homework
If you want to pass the course
Categorical Imperative
An UNCONDITIONAL MORAL OBLIGATION that we are able to work out using REASON
Categorical Imperative Kant
A command which Logically HAS TO BE FOLLOWED
It does NOT DEPEND ON THE END RESULTS
Kant believed that CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE are followed UNCONDITIONALLY