Kantian Ethics

Question 1

Categorical Imperative

Answer 1

an unconditional moral obligation that is binding in all circumstances and is not dependent on a person’s inclination or purpose.

Question 2

Hypothetical Imperative

Answer 2

a moral obligation that applies only if one desires the implied goal

Question 3

what are the three formulations of categorical imperative

Answer 3

• universal law (can you rationally will everyone to do what you do?)

-the end in itself - mere means to an end

• kingdom of ends (harmonious society)

Question 4

Three postulates

Answer 4

• free will
• immortality
• god

Question 5

why must there be a god and immortality of the soul

Answer 5

• because some good people are not rewarded in life and some bad people are which is unjust
• for ethics to work there must be a God to let us into an afterlife to be rewarded and reach summon bonum

Question 6

summum bonum

Answer 6

the highest good

Question 7

did Kant agree with hypothetical imperatives

Answer 7

no, people did not have to do these
not an absolute moral law

Question 8

Deontological Ethics

Answer 8

system of decision-making that focuses on the moral principles of duty and rules

Question 9

‘duty for duties sake’

Answer 9

only morally good motivation for doing an action is duty

Question 10

Hume’s meta-ethics vs Kant

Answer 10

P1 - moral judgements are intrinsically motivating
P2 - reason is not intrinsically motivating
C1 - therefore moral judgements cannot be derived from reason alone

Question 11

How does Kant respond to consequentialist arguments

Answer 11

everyone is responsible for their own actions so if u lie to protect someone from a nazi u r simply acting as tho u r responsible for their behaviour
- cannot control consequences so cannot be responsible

Question 12

Bernard Williams on emotions (argument)

Answer 12

• inhuman and ethically wrong for moral judgement to be free from emotion

BUT Kant - something is right or wrong regardless of how a person might feel

BUT - impossible to act without any influence of emotion

Question 13

Clashing duties and the example

Answer 13

-if method produces clashes it cannot discover a duty
e.g. a man that has to go to war to fight for his country but also stay home to help his sick mother

Question 14

Kant’s response to clashing duties argument

Answer 14

if a duty clashes u have not used reason properly
- perfect duties (one way of fulfilling) vs imperfect duties (multiple ways of fulfilling)

• e.g. go to war and pay for a carer for the mother or stay home and help war effort by working at a factory