Kant Flashcards
Kants view on Autonomy / heteronomy
- (autonomy) central condition of rational thought
(morality rests upon reason alone) - believed errors in moral reasoning where due to heteronomy - contradicts following freedom.
Kant on why we follow Duty
Outcomes are never clear - might be clouded by emotions etc
Is kant A-priori or A-pasteriori
A- priori (based upon logic)
Define the FIRST FORM of the categorical imperative
Universalisation of a maxim
Define the SECOND FORM of the categorical imperative
Treat people as an ends in themselves, not as a means to an ends
Define the THIRD FORM of the Catagorical imperative
Treat everyone as an end in the kingdom of ends - treat everyone well
Criticism of the FIRST FORM of the categorical imperative
- universalisation doesn’t make it a moral action - e.g if everyone put their left shoe on first that doesn’t make it moral
Criticism of the SECOND FORM of the categorical imperative + example
Never treat people as a means to an end
e.g: How can managers NOT use workers as a means to an end
Coventry air raid 1941
Explain The THIRD FORM of the categorical imperative
We must act as if our actions creat laws —> must act with duty in everything we do
Kant on the afterlife
Rationally, perfect moral virtue ought to be rewarded by perfect happiness. Heaven is a natural result of being good.
2 objections to kant
- cant ignore the consequences of our actions for the sake of duty
- duty becomes a form of ‘cold charity’
- Univeralisable notions can contradict - E.g feminist duty to abortion contradicts christianity
What is Kants myth of the benevolent lie
Axe murderer analogy
—> cant predict future, therefore duty is fundamental
Define summum bonum
The ultimate good
What are Kants 3 postulates (assumptions)
- universe is right + fair
- immortality (afterlife) must exist
- humans are free (because we are rational)
What is the naturalistic fallacy
natural doesn’t mean good
