Kantian Deontology Flashcards
3 Postulates
These are things that must exist in order for his theory to stand
- Immortality of the Soul
- Existence of God
- Freedom
Immortality of the Soul
One cannot achieve perfection a single lifetime. the only way that one can therefore justify living a good life is that rewards will come in the afterlife
Existence of God
Existence of God is necessary for a just universe and to provide us with an afterlife.
This is not the same as saying that God exists, however
Freedom
Humans are autonomous moral agents and have the ability to make rational choices. Freedom is necessary for us to recognise and carry out our duties
Formulations of the Categorical Imperative
- Universalisability Principle
- Humans as ends in themselves
- The principle of a Universal Kingdom of Ends
Universalisability Principle
We can discover moral absolutes by apply a certain action universally to every situation. If this action is justified in every situation, then it is our duty to do it. In this way, morality is derived from reason
Categorical Imperative
This is a universal law that must be obeyed. They are derived using the formulations of the categorical imperative
Duty
If you ‘ought’ to do it, this implies that you can do it and therefore doing it becomes your duty.
To have good will is to do one’s duty
Extreme Duty
Acting not only out of self-interest, but at cost to oneself and our own happiness
EG the Murderer analogy to imply duty over emotion
If a murderer comes to your house and asks if your friend was hiding there, then you have a duty to be honest, even if it means selling others out.
You cannot let your emotion cloud your morality
What does Kant mean by ‘humans are ends in themselves’?
Humans can achieve their own ends via reason and autonomy. This separates us from mere objects.
EG Mugs exist for coffee drinkers but humans exist for ourselves
What is the second formulation of the categorical imperative also referred to as?
Kant’s formula for humanity
Universal Kingdom of Ends
We are working towards a more impartial and fair society. Everyone in society desires the same common ends in humanity
Hypothetical imperatives
Refers to commands that have to be reached in order to achieve a certain aim (If I want X then I ought to do Y)
When is the Hypothetical Imperative used?
If the moral agent wants X but believes it to be impossible to achieve
EG the moral aim of eliminating poverty in Africa can be achieved by alleviating the huge debts of African countries
Summum Bonum
This is the highest form of good, which can only be achieved in the moral community. Kant felt that the implementation of his ethic would lead to this.
However, this could only be reached after death as the nature of the afterlife and unity with God is completely unknown
What is requires for the growth of the Summer Bonum?
1) Good (moral goodness/righteousness)
2) Well-being (contentment)
STRENGTH about autonomy
Humans become the authors of their own morality as they are morally autonomous
STRENGTH about impartiality
The idea that no humans should be treated as a means to an end promotes equality and impartiality
Falls to the CRITICISM that is present in all absolutist ethics
it is far too rigid and not adaptable to the complexities of life.
What are we to do when there is conflicting duties?
EG it does not take into account emotions which are an important factor in the human existence. Duty can even be guided by human sympathy
CRITICISM about animals
Kant sees animals as inferior as they cannot reason. This means that they can be treated as means to an end
Bernard Williams’ CRITICISM: Argument of Moral Luck
Kant ignores the circumstances of a moral action. An individual may think that they are doing good when they do X but due to the circumstances this is not the case.
Philippa Foot’s CRITICISM: Law of double effect
Kant gives insufficient guidance in some situations. Should a terminally ill patient be administered painkillers to ease suffering if it means that they will die sooner? Equally, the harm in shortening life was prioritised, then should the patient be allowed to suffer in trade for a longer life?
WD Ross’ Prima Facie theory
Exceptions should be made to Kant’s duties, which would be called ‘prima facie duties’. Ross was an intuitionist who believed that moral absolutes we’re known intuitively
Prima Facie Duties (7)
1) Promise Keeping
2) Reparation for harm done
3) Gratitude
4) Justice
5) Beneficience (generosity)
6) Self-improvement
7) Non-Maleficence
What 3 words describe the nature of thee categorical imperative?
Universal, unchanging, and absolute
What is ‘good will’ according to Kant?
Good will is the only good free from self -interest
What does ‘good will’ cause us to do?
It forces us to enact out duty by following the categorical imperative.
In acting out this duty we can achieve the summer bonum
What is the nature of ethical statements?
They are synthetic a priori
What does it mean for an ethical statement to be synthetic a priori?
They are deduced by reason but may be wrong and so they have to be tested
Contradiction in will
Where the will of a person contradicts what the universalisation of the maxim implies
Contradiction in conception
Where the maxim, when universalised, is no longer a viable means to an end
What is the defining feature of a person for Kant?
Rationality
Why does the foetus have the right not to be treated as a means to an end?
It has the potential to become a person
Why does the woman not have the right to self-determination in abortion?
She cannot create her own laws, she must abide by the laws of nature. We have an extreme duty not to kill and thus abortion can never be fully permitted
What kind of contradiction is abortion?
contradiction in conception
We cannot have the maxim ‘all babies should be aborted’ universalised as humanity would cease to exist
Pregnancy from rape
NO
You cannot universalise the maxim that all babies conceived via rape should be aborted as those who have already been born would have to will themselves out of existence
Foetus diagnosed with a disability
NO
You are using the foetus as a means to an end
Mother’s life is in danger
The baby is not a potential person as if nature ran its course, it would not survive. This means that there will be no contradiction in will or conception to abort
What are the 2 conditions in which Kant justifies war?
1) it must be authorised by the people
2) it should aim to establish a condition more closely approaching a rightful condition
What are the 6 negative articles Kant gives to decrease the likelihood of war?
1) No temporary peace treaties
2) No annexation of one state by another
3) No professional armies
4) No authorisation of national debt to pay for war
5) No interference in the internal affairs of another state
6) No acts in war which breed mistrust and make peace impossible
What are the 3 positive articles Kant gives to prevent war?
1) Every state should have a republican constitution
2) Each state shall participate in a league of nations
3) Cosmopolitan rights of universal hospitality
How can self-defence be justified?
Kant universalises the maxim of preserving one’s life. This means that violence may be appropriate in self-defence
Why is the discrimination of combatants and non-combatants important?
You would be using the non-combatants as a means to an end. Thus, no WMDs
Why is Kant against conscription?
It undermines individual autonomy
What outcomes justify war?
- Bringing of justice and ‘perpetual peace’
- Original reasons for war are emphasised because of Kant’s focus on motivation and duty
What are Orend’s 5 Kantian articles for ending the conflict?
1) whether the objective has been achieved
2) terms of peace declared by a legitimate authority
3) punishment is limited only to hose directly responsible for the conflict
4) winning party must submit to judgement
5) peace terms must be proportional to the original offence
What is casuistry?
Taking moral issues one a case-by-case basis
Kant may be doing this in not universalising murder and justifying war
