kantian ethics

Question 1

what is Immanuel Kant known for

Answer 1

his discussion of the categorical imperative

Question 2

what type of theory is it

Answer 2

deontologist, objective

Question 3

what does he believe

Answer 3

that there were certain things one always had a duty to do, irrespective of the consequences of them

Question 4

how does he describe the duty

Answer 4

an action good is when you do your duty, the motive is what makes an action good, consequences are unimportant, certain acts are always right or wrong

Question 5

what do deontological thinkers believe

Answer 5

that we should decide whether an action is right or wrong without considering its consequences

Question 6

what is moral law

Answer 6

binding moral obligations

Question 7

what is a maxim

Answer 7

another word for moral rules, determined by reason

Question 8

what is duty

Answer 8

duties are created by the moral law, to follow it is our duty

Question 9

what is summum bonus

Answer 9

the highest, most supreme good

Question 10

what is good will

Answer 10

a person of good will is a person who makes decisions according to the moral law

Question 11

what is categorical imperative

Answer 11

an unconditional moral obligation that is always binding irrespective of a persons inclination or purpose

Question 12

what is hypothetical imperative

Answer 12

a moral obligation that applies only if one desires the implied goal - not a moral imperative

Question 13

what is the kingdom of ends

Answer 13

an imagined future in which all people act in accordance to the moral law, the categorical imperative

Question 14

what did kant say about where we get our morals from

Answer 14

‘two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe…the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me’

Question 15

what does kant say human sense of morality is

Answer 15

impressive - away from animals

Question 16

what is universal maxim

Answer 16

fixed rules that must always apply

Question 17

what is a posteriori

Answer 17

that which can known to be true only through sense experience

Question 18

what is synthetic

Answer 18

knowledge requiring empirical tests such as observations and experiments

Question 19

what is a priori knowledge

Answer 19

that which is knowledgable without reference to sense experience

Question 20

what is analytic

Answer 20

the predicates say something true about the subjects

Question 21

what is deontological ethics

Answer 21

any ethical theory which argues that the rightness of an act lies in doing the right thing because it is the right thing in itself

Question 22

what are three of kants dos

Answer 22

your duty as it is the highest good
perform actions that are morally required
actions that can be universalised

Question 23

what are three of kants donts

Answer 23

lie
act out of self-interest
follow utilitarianism

Question 24

what do humans seek

Answer 24

an ultimate end or the “summum bonum” which is a state in which human virtue and happiness are united

Question 25

can we reach summum bonum in one lifetime

Answer 25

no

Question 26

why should you act on duty alone

Answer 26

you can act on emotions which allows it to be personalistic
youre nurtured to believe in a specific way and so its personal to you
simple and objective so everyone can follow it

Question 27

why shouldn’t you act on duty alone

Answer 27

emotions can be wrong and radical
people are nurtured to believe in a different way and peoples conscience are different and right or wrong may be different

Question 28

what is the hypothetical theory

Answer 28

hypothetical imperatives are ones that tell you what to do if you want to achieve something
this is an if statement and therefore it is conditional
only applied prescriptively

Question 29

why does situation support the hypothetical imperative

Answer 29

if i want to do the most loving thing i must do X
you are doing a certain behaviour to meet a certain end
kant states that this is wrong

Question 30

what is an imperative

Answer 30

something that must be done

Question 31

what are the three formulations

Answer 31

‘principle of universalisability’
treat people as ends in themselves
act as if you live in a kingdom of ends

Question 32

whats the first formulation

Answer 32

universalisability
“always act according to the maxim whose universality as a law you can at the same time will…such an imperative is categorical”

Question 33

what does the first formulation mean

Answer 33

for something to be morally good you should be able to make it universal
bank of maxims
applied to anyone in any situation
doesnt matter about consequences
does it make sense for everyone to act that way
jesus’ golden rule “treat others as you would like to be treated”

Question 34

what is the second formulation

Answer 34

humans are ends in themselves
“act as that you treat humans, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end and never as a means only”

Question 35

what does the second formulation mean

Answer 35

dont use other people for your own gain
humans for kant are rational beings and so we are special and should be treated as autonomous beings

Question 36

what is the third formulation

Answer 36

kingdom of ends
“act as if (you are) a legislating member in the universal kingdom of ends”

Question 37

what does the third formulation mean

Answer 37

kant argues that to preserve the moral integrity of each individual we must see everyone as an end
we have a duty to develop ourselves and reach our own perfection