Kant

Question 1

Who is Kant?

Answer 1

Kant is an enlightenment scholar

Question 2

What did he believe?

Answer 2

That there is an absolute moral truth

Question 3

How do humans discover absolute moral truth?

Answer 3

By using their ability to reason

Question 4

What is a priori?

Answer 4

Based on reason alone

Question 5

What are moral decisions based on?

Answer 5

Reason alone- they are a priori

Question 6

How are humans different from the rest of the creation?

Answer 6

We can use reason to decide how to behave-we can make moral choices. Other animals learn behaviour or act on instinct but they cannot decide on the best course of action.

Question 7

What does Kant dismiss?

Answer 7

Kant dismisses the hypothetical imperative (where we make decisions based on the consequences)

Question 8

Why does Kant dismiss the hypothetical imperative?

Answer 8

It is not true moral reasoning because the answer will be different depending on the circumstances

Question 9

What must there be if there is an absolute moral truth?

Answer 9

You can’t have one set of rules for yourself and expect something different from other people

Question 10

How must you decide how to behave?

Answer 10

Allow for all other human beings to be free, reasoning individuals just like me. This leads to Kant’s first formula- the Formula of the Law of Nature

Question 11

What is the Formula of the Law of Nature?

Answer 11

We must use categorical imperatives- moral rules which must apply to all people in all circumstances
If we want to know how to behave we must universalise our actions- we must ask ourselves “would I want this rule to apply to everyone in whatever circumstance?”

Question 12

What is a quote that shows universalization?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What is an example that demonstrates universalization?

Answer 13

The Lying Promise

Question 14

What is The Formula of End in Itself?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What is The Formula of a Kingdom of Ends?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Kant’s theory is deontological. What does this mean?

Answer 16

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 17

What is the Summum Bonum?

Answer 17

The highest good, which must be achievable. Can only happen in the afterlife.

Question 18

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Answer 18

As doing good does not necessarily result in justice, then Kant postulates that there must be an afterlife where justice is worked out and the Summum Bonum is reached.

Question 19

Strength of Kant’s argument

Answer 19

We can make unwise decisions when acting on emotion

Question 20

Strength of Kant’s argument

Answer 20

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’.

Question 21

Strength of Kant’s argument

Answer 21

It values all human beings as reasoning individuals like yourself. It is wrong to use people for your own ends

Question 22

Weakness of Kant’s argument

Answer 22

Consequences do matter – it is wrong to put a principle before a life

Question 23

Weakness of Kant’s argument

Answer 23

Emotion is important – Kant’s duty based system can seem very cold and uncaring

Question 24

Weakness of Kant’s argument

Answer 24

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 !