Kant Flashcards
Kant dates?
- Immanuel Kant
- 18th Century
- German Philosopher
Deontological Vs. Teleological + which one is Kant?
Deontological
- Focus on Action + Reason for Action, not consequences
- Actions are intrinsically right or wrong
- Morality = duty
–> Kant
Teleological
- Focuses on Consequences of actions
- Utilitarianism
Phenomenal Vs. Noumenal world
Phenomenal world = earth
- Humans + animals - driven by instinct
- Things we are surrounded by
–> empirical evidence unreliable
- View world through our own perspective, but now always the truth
Noumenal World
- Angels + God
- World of Pure reason
- Morality belongs here
- Reason is the tool to help us learn true nature of the universe
Duty to Kant
- def, enables us to, how discovered, + disadvantage
- Duty = doing whats right as it is your duty
- Duty for duties sake
–> no ulterior motive as would corrupt morality for act - Acting from Duty enables us to act truly free
- All rational beings have sense of right + wrong –> duty
- Duty discovered through categorical imperative
–> does it kill our humanity, turn us into emotionless robots Governed by rationalism
What is the Summum Bonum
- The highest good –> place where individuals happy + righteous
- Alignment between virtue and happiness
- Reach when act with good will + do our duty
- God’s existence reasoned through necessity of Summum Bonum
–> Corrupt motivation of duty?
–> if only following duty to be rewarded with afterlife, not truly following duty.
Reason to Kant
- Reason is the source of rights and wrongs
- Everyone has ability to reason, and therefore work out morality of action
- Reason gives us freedom to make judgements + form opinions
Kant on Animals
- Animals lack reason
–> sets humans apart from them - Animals follow desires + instinct e.g. hungry –> kill - no form of moral capacity
–> if we make moral decision based on instinct or ‘ifs’ we are no better than animals. - to be Moral Must use Reason
Categorical Imperative Vs. Hypothetical (6 each, good luck)
Categorical
- Intrinsic good
- Willed as an end itself
- A priori (through reason)
- Absolute
- Deontological
- Duty for duty’s sake
Hypothetical
- Instrumental Good
- Willed as means to an end
- A posteriori
- Relative
- Consequential / Teleological
- Ends justify means
What structures does Kant give us to help us? (2 things)
- 3 formulations; Universalisation, Ends not Means, Legislator in Kingdom of Ends
- Categorical Vs. Hypothetical
Explain the 3 Formulations plz
- Formulation of Law of Nature
–> Universalisation
- Should act in a way your actions could become a universal law - Formula of the end in itself
–> Ends Not Means
- Respect peoples intrinsic value, not instrumental
- Treat fellow beings as an end in themselves, not a means to achieving an end - Formula of the Kingdom of ends
–> Legislator in Kingdom of Ends.
- Act as a legislation in the Kingdom of ends
- Make rules as an outsider with un-bias perspective
Kant on God
- Rejects idea God’s will is the basis for morality
–> basis for morality = reason - If God made laws we would not be autonomous
- God’s moral law is followed through reason
- God is a postulate of pure reason
Define Postulate + 3 for Kant
- Something which is put forward as a solution / way of solving a problem
- God
- Immortality
- Freedom / Autonomy
4 Examples of Categorical Imperative
Suicide (IMPORTANT FOR EUTHANASIA)
–> Person contemplates suicide, but has duty to himself
–> Life is fundamental principle in nature, suicide going against nature
–> Suicide always morally wrong
Borrowing Money
–> Wants to borrow money knowing he wont pay it back
–> not universal maxim to break promise and not pay it back, destroy trust
Talent
–> Person with extreme talent is chooses pursuit of pleasure over cultivating talent
–> Kant says not universal maxim for everyone to prioritise amusement - not universal
Selfishness
–> Someone could help others without much difficulty
–> Maxim of not helping others is universal however, couldn’t will this to be universal as everyone needs help at some stage
List the Wider Scholars for Kant
W.D. Ross
–> Prima Facie duties - help solve conflicting duties
–> Prima = Justice, Non-Maleficence, Beneficence etc.
–> Actual duties clear once weighed up conflicting prima facie duties
Macintyre
–> Immoral and trivial maxims fit into Kantian System e.g. everyone eat sandwiches
-> Kant not entirely based on reason
Phillips Foot
–> Kant doesn’t help doctrine of double effect e.g. euthanasia – (argue he does, states life is nature, immoral to go take it)
Micheal Sandel
–> Misleading truths - for Murder at the door problem
Strengths of Kantian Ethics
Ends not means
- Respect for all human life + everyone treated equal, avoid issues like racism, sexism etc.
Protects minority
- Avoids teleological tyranny of majority through every person having intrinsic value
- Minority not allowed to suffer even if create pleasure for majority
Human Rights
- All Humans have ability to reason
–> basis of many Human Rights Acts
Rational
- Based on pure reason
–> emotions not conflicting with fulfilling moral duty
Creates Guidlines
- Cat Imperative + 3 formulations
