Final Exam- Deontology

Question 1

o Why Kant believed utilitarianism is irrational

Answer 1

Kant believed that it is evaluating what people will feel (measuring untis of emotions: pleasure and pain), and feelings are beyond our control.

Question 2

o Two criteria to deserve moral praise

Answer 2

• Good action
• Good intention

Question 3

Categorical imperative (first and second formulation)

Answer 3

First: “Act only on that maxim that you can will as a universal law.”

Second: “Act so as to treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, as an end and never as merely a mean.”

Question 4

There are three categories of actions

Answer 4

· Acting for duty’s sake (1+2)
Good action
Not Good Intention
· Acting in accordance with duty (1)
Good action
Good intention
· Acting immorally (not respecting 1)
Bad action
Bad intention/Good intention
(intention doesn’t matter if the action isn’t good)

Question 5

o Strengths

Answer 5

§ Very abstract…. Logical … rational
§ Fundamental human rights are safeguarded.
§ impartial

Question 6

Weaknesses

Answer 6

§ Rigid. Notably, it does not take context into account.
§ Purely rational = rigid.
§ Only applies to rational beings.
§ Difficult to apply in some cases (formulating the maxim is not easy / the respectful thing to do could be interpreted differently)