Kantian Ethics

Question 1

immanuel kant looked at …

Answer 1

moral statements and how we use them. his deontological; theory looks at how an action brings about a duty as opposed to utilitarianism, which is consequence focused

Question 2

the importance of reason

Answer 2

Kant felt reason played a big part in how humans make moral decisions. So he centred his theory on the idea of reasoning from goodwill and duty.

Question 3

moral vs everyday statements

Answer 3

Kant thought moral statements were different from everyday statements.
> Moral statements are a priori synthetic as they can be understood without any experience, but followed up and evidenced with experience.
> Everyday statements are most typically known through a person’s experience and then verified by the experience of that person using this evidence to support the statement.

Question 4

kant’s theory on good will

Answer 4

Kant focussed on the idea of goodwill and its relationship with duty.

Kant thought that an action would only be a good action if the person acted from good will.
> For example, an action would not be deemed good if it was done to make somebody feel or look good.

Question 5

kant’s definition of duty

Answer 5

Kant’s definition of duty is to act morally and follow the rules that have been set out for you.

When you combine good will and duty, you get a moral action.

Kant’s former statements on reason come into play here. Kant felt every decision should be made by reason; based on the good will and the duty you have.

A decision should not be based on feelings or personal opinions. It should simply be based upon reasoning conforming to goodwill and duty.

Question 6

kants theory on statements recap

Answer 6

moral statements
> a priori (can be understood without any experience)
> evidenced with experience

everyday statements
> typically known through a person’s existence
> verified by a person using evidence to support the statement

Question 7

according to kant what two things do you have to combine to get moral action

Answer 7

duty

good will

Question 8

an imperative is …

Answer 8

… something you must do

Question 9

two types of imperatives

Answer 9

hypothetical and catergorical

Question 10

hypothetical imperative are dependent on …

Answer 10

the aims of a person’s wants and needs

Question 11

goals centred and not moral

Answer 11

Hypothetical imperatives begin with ‘if’.
> E.g. if you want to be healthier, you should exercise more and eat healthier food.

Hypothetical imperatives are goal centred and are only used when someone is trying to reach a goal.

This means they are not moral imperatives as they are only dependent on a goal someone is seeking.

Additionally, hypothetical imperatives only apply to those that want to achieve a goal and are seeking a reward as a consequence of their behaviour.

Question 12

selfish actions

Answer 12

Another example: if you want to pass your exam, you should revise and study for it.
> The reward here is to pass the exam and succeed. To succeed, you must revise and work hard for it.
Kant felt hypothetical imperatives were selfish actions and should not be focussed on. We should turn our thoughts to actions which promote goodwill and promote morality.

Question 13

rise of categorical imperatives

Answer 13

This is when categorical imperatives came into play.

Kant’s deontological theory began to focus heavily on the moral and human duty to only perform actions based on the reasoning of goodwill.

Question 14

true of hypothetical imperatives

Answer 14

dependent on the aims of a person’s wants and needs

goal centered

begin with ‘if’ (conditional statement)

kant felt they were selfish actions and they should not be focussed on

apply to those wanting to achieve a goal and be rewarded for their behaviour

Question 15

categorical imperative

Answer 15

kant believed there was a principle of morality that could be used to identify what our moral duties, as individuals, are

in other words, something you must do regardless of circumstances

Question 16

instruct on right and wrong

Answer 16

The categorical imperative is a moral imperative.

Categorical imperatives are used alongside rules and laws and instruct people on what is right and what is wrong.

Categorical imperatives can be applied to everybody and can be used to make decisions on what is morally correct.

Question 17

3 formulations

Answer 17

Kant devised three formulations to the categorical imperative to make it clear how it should be used and how somebody should apply it to making a decision.
> These are known as the three formulations of the categorical imperative.

Question 18

first formulation

Answer 18

The universal principle.
> You must perform actions that can be made into a universal rule that can be applied to everyone (universalisability).
> Example: you cannot lie. This is universalisable as it is wrong to lie and lying can cause many issues. It is also not acting out of goodwill.

Question 19

second formulation

Answer 19

Ends in themselves.
> Kant said: “treat people as an end in themselves”. You should not treat somebody as a means to an end. You should treat them as an end, treat them as you want to be treated.
> Kant means that every person is good, intrinsically. He states that we should all treat each other as an end, never use someone to achieve something else. He felt it was never right to treat somebody as a means. We should be using good will to decide our actions and treat others with kindness.

Question 20

third formulation

Answer 20

The principle of the kingdom of ends.
> Our own actions should be judged based on the idea that everyone else in the world is acting morally and treating everybody fairly. Therefore, treating people as an end, not a means.
> This formulation clearly rejects hypothetical imperatives and focuses on the idea that all humans have a moral duty and it is their role to perform it.

Question 21

using the three formulations

Answer 21

These three formulations can be used like a checklist to decide whether an action is a categorical or hypothetical imperative.

Kant said we should be striving for categorical imperatives at all times to focus on our moral duty. We should not be wasting time on selfish deeds or performing actions just to receive a reward.

Question 22

true categorical imperatives

Answer 22

Kant argued that a true categorical imperative is performed simply because it is the right thing to do. A bonus is that you might feel good after performing it.

But a categorical imperative is not performed for the reward; it is simply a product of a moral duty.

Question 23

how and why are categorical imperatives performed

Answer 23

people are treated as ends in themselves

actions are performed that can be made into universal rules

Question 24

categorical vs hypothetical

Answer 24

hypothetical: people want to do
> these are not moral statements; they are driven by people’s goals

categorical: people must do normally
> these are moral statements

Question 25

summum bonum

Answer 25

end goal of Kant’s categorical imperative

Question 26

to achieve the summum bonum, you not only have to …

Answer 26

follow the categorical imperative, but also the three postulates

Question 27

how to achieve summum bonum

Answer 27

If you act morally, you can achieve summum bonum - supreme good.

Kant uses it throughout his deontological approach to mean the highest happiness.

The summum bonum is received after we die and is a reward for acting morally and following the duty you have been given through following the categorical imperative.
> It is therefore quite often compared to Heaven.

Question 28

must be acting for goodness

Answer 28

To receive the summum bonum, you need to follow the categorical imperative and follow your innate duty.

You must be acting for goodness, not for selfish reasons or to gain something else.

Kant argued you cannot attain the summum bonum if you are simply acting morally to reach it. You must be acting out of good will, not just to attain a goal.

Question 29

the three postulates

Answer 29

The three postulates can explain to an individual why they should act morally as being moral is rational. They are sometimes names the postulates of practical reason.

Question 30

what are the three postulates

Answer 30

freedom
immortality
God

Question 31

freedom

Answer 31

You must act autonomously - of your own accord.

Therefore, an individual must be able to access freedom and have freedom of choice to act as they wish.

If they do not have this ability, they cannot achieve the summum bonum. This is because somebody must be acting according to their own duty, using their own thoughts and actions.

Question 32

immortality

Answer 32

To receive the ultimate end goal, summum bonum, we must accept that there is an afterlife and that we have an immortal soul.

If we felt that we only existed in the life we have now, then the summum bonum would not be possible.

Therefore, to use the categorical imperative correctly and achieve the summum bonum, we must accept the fact that the soul is immortal and that there is something for us after we die - the summum bonum - heaven.

Question 33

god

Answer 33

Kant argues that moral law is evidence to prove God’s existence.

He goes on to say that there is only one being that could reward those that follow the categorical imperative - God.

This is because God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnibenevolent (all-loving) and omnipotent (all-powerful).

Therefore, if you believe in the first two postulates, then you must believe in the fact that God exists.

Question 34

what are the three postulates of the categorical imperative

Answer 34

freedom immortality god

Question 35

true of summum bonum

Answer 35

if you act morally, you can achieve summum bonum

quite often compared to Heaven

kant uses it to mean the highest happiness

reward for acting morally & following the duty of the categorical imperative

recieved after we die

Question 36

what does summum bonum mean

Answer 36

highest happiness

Question 37

arguments for kantian ethics is useful for making moral decisions

Answer 37

It makes clear what being moral is and how we should make moral decisions.

The categorical imperative uses three formulations which indicate what a person should check before they make a decision.

Kant emphasises autonomy and freedom in his deontology, which also promotes the value of others and respecting them for who they are.

Additionally, Kant’s theory promotes moral actions and rejects immoral actions, such as slavery and torture. The theory promotes equality and fair treatment.

Question 38

arguments against kantian ethics is useful for making moral decisions

Answer 38

While Kant’s morality is based upon reason and seems straightforward, he doesn’t give specific advice on individual situations which can make it difficult to apply.

Additionally, it can be too prescriptive. While Kant says he feels human freedom and autonomy are important, he also states you must adhere to the categorical imperative to be a moral being. This can be quite confusing and contradictory.

Question 39

what does kant’s deontology not promote

Answer 39

hypothetical imperative

Question 40

strengths of kant’s deontology

Answer 40

formulation provide a framework
> the three formulations indicate what a person should check before they make a decision

emphasises autonomy/freedom

promotes moral actions

makes clear how to make decisions

promotes the value of others

rejects immoral actions

makes clear what being moral is

Question 41

can duty really measure good/bad?

Answer 41

Thomas Nagel says that Kant’s theory ignores the situation that the person is in when they are making this decision, so this ignores the circumstances that the moral action is being performed in.
> So one person may think that by following their duty, they are doing the morally right thing. But in the circumstances, this may not be the correct thing to do.

As Kant’s theory ignores the particular situation, someone might do their duty and it be wrong; another person might do their duty and it be right.

Question 42

is kantian ethics too abstract

Answer 42

Kant’s theory is quite abstract which makes it difficult to apply to certain situations.

It explains how to reach a categorical imperative using three formulations and accepting three postulates - but it does not tell you which actions are morally acceptable, which makes it difficult then to know what to do in situations.

Question 43

are duty and God too abstract

Answer 43

The focus on duty can make it difficult to apply to modern situations as we do not necessarily follow this idea of ‘duty’ in modern society.

Kant’s theory uses the idea of God as the reward of the summum bonum, which would make the theory abstract and inaccessible to Atheists.

Question 44

too reliant on reason?

Answer 44

You could argue that the focus on reason and duty in Kant’s deontology removes any understanding towards other humans and makes the theory cold and inhumane in certain circumstances.

Kant seems to reject personal relationships and promotes following the categorical imperative above anything else.

Question 45

theory lacks empathy

Answer 45

That Kant ignores the consequences of actions and focuses purely on duty and reason makes the theory lack empathy to a certain degree. It also makes it difficult to apply the theory in real-life terms.

Humans are very emotional and we cannot innately ignore other people’s feelings or ignore relationships that we have when making decisions. It goes against our nature.

So Kant’s theory is too reliant on reason. This means the theory is difficult to apply and use in modern-day life.

Question 46

what does kant’s deontology seem to ignore or reject because of its predominant focus on duty

Answer 46

personal relationships

the consequence of actions

Question 47

God is seen as the summum bonum of Kant’s theory.

To which group of people is the theory therefore inaccessible?

Answer 47

atheists

Question 48

what are the limitations of kants deontology

Answer 48

doesn’t give specific advice on individual situations

can be too prescriptive