Evaluate whether or not an ethical judgement about something being good, bad, right or wrong can be based on the extent to which duty is best served

Question 1

Paragraph 1- K and GW

Answer 1

K- GW held by p who has right intention when performing duty
-once use reason to figure out then should act purely out of duty
-‘duty for duties sake’
-example give to charity bc duty not be feel sympathy
-mot wrong to act on desires but can’t be morally right as actions only good if based on duty
-summum bonum is sense of ‘ought’, higher good, end product of all dutiful ‘good’ actions

Question 2

critique of K and GW

Answer 2

-ought and duty rely on SB’s existence as need a reason committing our dutiful actions- contributing to greater good
-bringing in God undermines K’s claims that ethical system independent of religion so moral duties can be deduced regardless of belief

Question 3

Paragraph 2- clear/precise

Answer 3

-KE precise rules and clear method for rational beings to find them out
-people recognise the rationality of rules through on reason
-engages autonome of indiv in way required for civilised democratic society

Question 4

critique of precise and clear- duties clash

Answer 4

-cant base on duty- K no guidance for when clash. claims reason can figure out what our objective duty is
-if duties clash and one cannot be done, can’t be our duty
-but since that ‘duty’ was obtained using F of the CI, looks like product of K’s theory is not duty
-Satre- solider who universalises duty to go to war and fight for country, but also stay home and look after sick mother. cant do both but both universalisable and so both duty

Question 5

Paragraph 3- K response to clashing duties

Answer 5

-if duties clash haven’t used reason properly
-distinguished perfect duties where only one way to fulfil. imperfect where there’s multiple
-perfect duty to tell truth and avoid lying
-sick relative/fight for country both imperfect. could pay s/o to look after sick relative or help war effort from home. possible to fulfil both as imperfect so have multiply options which u can choose ones that don’t clash

Question 6

critique of K’s response to clashing duties

Answer 6

-surely circumstances where duty can’t be fulfilled if multiple means of fulfilment. solider’s life circumstances might mean only can fulfil one imperfect duty.