Kant and the Categorical Imperative Flashcards
What are the basics to Kantian Ethics?
Well it was developed by German philosopher Immanuel Kant. The ethics are deontological and rule by A Priori logic. Kant viewed morality to be a constant and reason as a means of coming to morality.
What are the terms and definitions of the two main imperatives?
Hypothetical - The choice we make when we desire something. I want good grade i ought to remember this!
Categorical - Commands that we must follow regardless of our desire or consequence. We gain knowledge of these commands through pure reason as thus religion isn’t needed.
What are the 3 principles behind the categorical imperative
Universability
Treat others never as a mere means (practical imperative)
Kingdom’s End
What is the universability principle?
We must go through a process of thought before proceeding in action.
What is the rule of my action?
By completing this action you accept it as a rule.
What would life be like if everyone followed this rule, always. Would the rule contradict? Would life be better with or without this rule?
We cannot be moral exceptions, if we violate the moral law we are guilty and responsible for any consequence.
What is the practical imperative?
- Never treating people as a mere means yet always as an end
- We ourselves are rational beings , we live for ourselves in an autonomous manner
- We can use people as a mean but never a mere means
- As such this makes lying and manipulation inherently wrong as if deceived we cannot make a moral choice
What is Kingdom’s end?
Builds on the other two principles where by we act as if we were to be ruling a kingdom of a free society where everyone is autonomous as such dignity should be protected, laws should apply to all and it’s the perfect society as we envision it.
What are 5 factors that would not make us free?
Being slave to desire Being manipulated Being genetically determined Forced against will Trained by society
You must act with correct motivation and by your own intensive of reason
What is the perfect duty?
Rules that we HAVE to obey such never lying
What is an imperfect duty
Exceptions to duties based on circumstances. We should help others however if we our the ones financially indebted then we are limited
What is empiricism?
We are born with a blank slate, an empty mind to which experience gives us sense of morality. Locke and Hume.
What is Rationalism?
Built in is was we already inherently know and understand, like sense of logic. It’s a pre given knowledge built in. Theorists include Descartes and to a degree Kant.
What is Kant’s view of Reason?
Reason can help us determine morality
Reason alone can do such without experience
Yet still reason is not perfect, experience we have had may flaw our logic
What is Kant’s view of duty?
Moral action should be produced out of sense of duty not inclination of consequence or gain
Acting purely from feeling is simply irrational
Our duty is to respect the moral law and fulfil our obligation
Duty being a matter of choice with the sense know we should do something we find such in human reason
What is the one thing good without qualification?
And why>
The Good will.
As we never have complete (empiricism) knowledge in a situation we kan’t be certain our perception isn’t flawed. This aimed to solve Bentham’s is ought problem.
What Kant’s view on a sense of moral obligation?
Kant viewed that we all are aware of having a moral obligation. This is because moral reason makes us aware of this obligation irrespective of our consequences. This allows rulings to apply to all.
Is it completely deontological?
No, the idea of looking at the consequences if everyone acted a certain way uses consequential logic to deduce a law
What is there to gain from following this law?
A moral world is a better world, unlike other theories it doesn’t state there is a eudamonia state or it will increase pleasure just as rather it will give us a sense of worthiness in happiness
Why is there so much evil in the world though?
Humanity has a tendency towards evil and it happens when people use the maxims to fuel their own interests
What is Summum Bonum
The supreme Good. Were perfect virtue in a world rewards with perfect happiness. Yet life is corrupt and morality won’t always equate to deserved happiness as such life must continue on after death.
If you seek this happiness you must assume it is possible (refers to idea of heaven) God exists to fulfil this idea of my worth happiness
What does the saying ought implies can mean
The categorical imperative that we ought to do our duty implies we can do our duty
Name 3 main issues with Kantian Ethics
1) Conflict of moral duties makes it unclear what we ought to do
2) Unrealistic in the sense we are emotional beings, how are we supposed to omit emotion entirely?
3) Not being situational could bring great suffering, sometimes the end does justify the means
Name 3 positives of Kantian Ethics
1) Doesn’t justify horrific acts which a consequentialist would so in a sense is modern in the sense of liberties
2) Universal and can apply to all, equal in that sense
3) Removes prejudice against minorities by distinguishing that morality is not the same as making a man happy
4 Bonus) It’s a clear cut easy concept to grasp
