Kant

Question 1

what did kant say about the starry heavens (quote)

Answer 1

two things fill the mind with awe…the starry heavens above and the moral law within me

Question 2

what era is kant from?

Answer 2

the enlightenment

Question 3

what is an absolute moral truth?

Answer 3

by using our ability to reason humans can discover

Question 4

what did he believe are moral decisions?

Answer 4

a priori

Question 5

what is a priori?

Answer 5

it is a decision based on reason alone

Question 6

how are humans different from the rest of creation?

Answer 6

we can use reason to decide how to behave, we can make moral choices. we are in a sense ‘free’. other animals learn behaviour and act on instinct, they cannot decide on the best course of action.

Question 7

what does kant dismiss?

Answer 7

the hypothetical imperative

Question 8

what is the hypothetical imperative?

Answer 8

decisions based on consequences

Question 9

why isnt the hypothetical imperative true moral reasoning?

Answer 9

because the answer will be different depending on the circumstances

Question 10

if there is one absolute truth what cant you expect? (think hypothetical imperative)

Answer 10

if there is one absolute truth you cant have one set of rules for yourself and expect something different for other people

Question 11

how did kant form the ‘formula of the form of nature’

Answer 11

he decided that in order to decide how to behave you must allow all others to be free reasoning individuals, just like yourself

Question 12

what is a categorical imperative and what formula does it come under?

Answer 12

they are moral rules which apply to all people in all circumstances and comes under the formula of the law of nature.

Question 13

what is universalisation?

Answer 13

when we must ask ourselves “would I want this rule to apply to everyone in whatever circumstance ?”

Question 14

what did kant say about universal law?

Answer 14

“act only according to that maxim that you will, at the same time, should become universal law”

Question 15

what example did kant give about this?

Answer 15

the lying promise

Question 16

whats the formula of the end in itself?

Answer 16

never treat another as a means to an end but as an end in himself

Question 17

whats The Formula of a Kingdom of Ends

Answer 17

Act as if you are living in a kingdom of “ends”

Question 18

is kants theory deontological?

Answer 18

yes

Question 19

what does deontological mean?

Answer 19

Once we have worked out how we should behave, then we should carry out our duty whatever we feel about it. Reason comes before emotions.

Question 20

what is the summum bonus

Answer 20

it is the highest good, what we can all achieve

Question 21

as doing good does not necessarily result in justice what does kant think happens?

Answer 21

Kant postulates that there must be an afterlife where justice is worked out.

Question 22

what are strengths of kant?

Answer 22

We can make unwise decisions when acting on emotion.
It is impossible to predict the consequences so it is good to act only out of duty – you have only ever ‘done the right thing’.
It values all human beings as reasoning individuals like yourself.
It is wrong to use people for your own ends

Question 23

what are weaknesses of kant?

Answer 23

Consequences do matter – it is wrong to put a principle before a life
Emotion is important – Kant’s duty based system can seem very cold and uncaring
Kant’s whole theory is based on the idea of a fair universe. What if the universe isn’t fair and there is no summum bonum? Then we make sacrifices for no reason !