kantian deontological ethics

Question 1

absolute/absolutism

Answer 1

unconditional and applying everywhere. absolutism is the view that moral rules are absolute and apply without exception

Question 2

acting in accordance with duty

Answer 2

action based upon hypothetical imperatives which do not lead to a violation of any categorical imperatives. acting from a motive other than duty but not conflicting with any duties you may have

Question 3

acting out of duty

Answer 3

acting based upon categorical and motivated by one’s own good will. doing one’s duty because it is one’s duty, not just because it coincidentally accords with you own motives

Question 4

agent / agency

Answer 4

an individual who is able to act freely and direct their own course of action. agency is the state one is in when one is an agent

Question 5

autonomy

Answer 5

the ability to act rationally from one’s own reasons, an autonomous agent is one who acts according to they own principles, rather than being driven by other forces

Question 6

categorical imperative

Answer 6

a conman which is unconditional and universal. in kants philosophy the rules of morality are categorical imperatives as they must be followed without exception

Question 7

first formulation

Answer 7

act only according to that maxim which you would will to be universal law

Question 8

second formulation

Answer 8

always treat humanity whether in yourself or in other, never only as means to an end but always as an end in itself

Question 9

clashing duties

Answer 9

a state where i am unable to perform one of my duties without violating another, thus producing a dilemma

Question 10

conditional

Answer 10

only applying under certain circumstances “if…then”

Question 11

conflicting duties

Answer 11

a state where performing one of my duties will lead me to neglect another, thus meaning that i am in a dilemma over which to perform

Question 12

contradiction

Answer 12

a state where two propositions cannot be asserted at the same time and both be true

Question 13

contradiction in conception

Answer 13

a contradiction caused by universalising a maxim, whereby making it into universal law leads the very concepts entailed within the maxim to be denied

Question 14

contradiction in will

Answer 14

a contradiction caused by universalising a maxim whereby an attempt to make it a universal law would affirm the ends but deny the means

Question 15

deontology

Answer 15

the moral theory that states we should always do our duty regardless of consequences, an act cantered theory which gives absolutist rules of conduct

Question 16

imperfect duty

Answer 16

what one must do, which may not be possible to carry out all the time

Question 17

perfect duty

Answer 17

what one must do without exception

Question 18

other regarding duty

Answer 18

what me must do when considering our conduct towards others

Question 19

self regarding duty

Answer 19

what me must do when considering our treatment of ourselves

Question 20

end

Answer 20

a goal or aim, the thing we wish to achieve which we use various means in order to bring about

Question 21

formal account of morality

Answer 21

an account of morality which looks at what morality would have to be like if it were to count as morality, lays the groundwork of producing a normative ethical theory

Question 22

formulation

Answer 22

the term used by kant for the specific rules generated by finding rational and unconditional laws of conduct, turns the categorical command of “you must” into something practical

Question 23

good in itself

Answer 23

something which is good without any relation to anything else, intrinsically good

Question 24

good will

Answer 24

a will that is good without qualification as it is motivated by duty. a will that acts in accordance with reason and rules that it could rationally universalise

Question 25

heteronomy

Answer 25

acting not from one’s own principles and reasons but driven by something else

Question 26

hypothetical

Answer 26

conditional, taking the form of “if…then”

Question 27

hypothetical imperative

Answer 27

a command which does not have to be followed at all times but is conditional and relative to circumstances

Question 28

imperative

Answer 28

a command i often in the form “you ought to” in kants view imperatives can also be self directed and emerge from the principles behind and reasons for our own decisions

Question 29

instrumental value

Answer 29

a good due to being means to and end where that end is some other further good

Question 30

intrinsic value

Answer 30

a good in itself

Question 31

maxim

Answer 31

a principle or rule we follow when we act

Question 32

means

Answer 32

the method by which is an end is reached

Question 33

moral dilemma

Answer 33

a choice between two options where both options lead to something we would consider morally bad

Question 34

non hypothetical imperatives

Answer 34

Foots name for various customs and codes for etiquette that take the form of imperative that are binding but which only apply to certain people under certain conditions

Question 35

passions

Answer 35

another name for the emotions typically placed in contrast to reason

Question 36

practical reason

Answer 36

the use of rational thought to decide upon courses of action including but not limited to moral decision making

Question 37

rational

Answer 37

in accordance with reason, consistent

Question 38

rights

Answer 38

a range of claims and liberties that individuals are entitled to

Question 39

unconditional

Answer 39

without exception, not based upon circumstances

Question 40

universal

Answer 40

applied to everyone and everything within a certain field, applying to all autonomous agents

Question 41

universalisable

Answer 41

applicable to all individuals in the same way. a key aim of moral theories can often be to find a set of universalisable principles

Question 42

universal law

Answer 42

a rule which would apply to all individuals equally

Question 43

will

Answer 43

the part of us which is able to choose and decide upon actions, according to kant will is fundamentally rational and act in accordance with reason

Question 44

without qualification

Answer 44

without the need for further explanation