Kantian Ethics Flashcards
What is Kants main work
Groundwork of the metaphysics of morals
Duty
Acting morally according to the good regardless of the consequences
Good will
The only thing in the world that is inherently good at all times
What two things does Kant argue are false intentions
- Basing views of right and wrong on consequences not in our control
- Decisions shouldn’t be based on our inclinations as our emotions change often
What does Kant argue does matter with decisions
That we logically work out what our duty should be and then we uphold it purely because it is our duty.
Maxim
the rule we have in mind and follow when carrying out an action or decision
Hypothetical imperative
These are ‘If then’ commands, that identify actions we ought to take if we desire a specific goal
Hypothetical imperative example
Don’t eat cake.
or what is meant is
Don’t eat cake, IF you want to lose weight.
Categorical imperative
A command that is absolute and good in itself regardless of the consequences, it is human duty to act in service of these
What are Kants three formulations in his categorical imperative
1 - Formula of the law of nature
2 - Person as ends
3 - Kingdom of ends
What did Kant argue isnt acting morally
Acting out of compassion and happiness, basing actions on intended or predicted consequences
Universalisability
when logically considering an action it is clear that something isnt good if it can’t be universalised, good actions can be universalised
Person as ends
People should be treated as Des in themselves as all humans are free rational beings, humans shouldn’t be treated as a means to an end for some kind of purpose
What are the three formulations for
Tests that can be applied to a maxim to find out if it is a categorical imperative and so a wholly good action
Kingdom of End
Effectively combines the first two, enforcing that all people in society are individuals and autonomous and we are all members of a community so we must act in this community with respect for all people
What is the main rejection to Kants second formulation
It is impossible to not treat others as a means to an end unless we grow all our own food, make our own house, make our own clothes, teach ourselves everything
How does Phillips Foot challenge Kant
Kant doesn’t have an adequate explanation for motives and desires, these are what drive human action, hypotheticals give humans a reason to act, categorical just tells people not to do a certain thing
What is Foots conclusion for a better system of morality
Many virtues and good character traits must be freely chosen, it is hoped for good morality that these good virtues motivate humans to action but they could not
—-> This is the reason why all morality is hypothetical, we shouldn’t be prescript to be virtuous but rather volunteers
Why is the good will purely good
It is the intention to do the right thing
Why is Kant deontological
he has no concern for consequences only that the right action is done in the moment
What are Kants three postulates
- God
- Afterlife
- Free will
Why did Kant reject the hypothetical imperative
Acceptable to do morally wrong acts like stealing and lying if someone can justify the consequences
Explain Kants postulation about God
Summom Bonus can’t be achieved in this life so there must be another in which a god can provide us with this, otherwise morality would make no sense
Explain Kants postulation about Afterlife
Summom Bonus doesn’t happen in this life so there must be an afterlife where virtue and sacrifice in this world can be united with happiness
Explain the postulation about free will
Kant placed importance on the human ability to reason as this was our unique faculty, for reason to truly work humans must have complete freedom to come to a moral decision, if commanded to do something then this isn’t freedom as we aren’t reasoning
Example of the first formulation
Axe Murder, lying can’t be universalised, not morally responsible for friends death
Example of second formulation
Lying promise, man uses friend as a means to get money that he knows he won’t pay back
Example for third formulation
Man question whether he should help others, Kant says he should because a society in the kingdom of ends would have everyone being helped universal and helping someone is treating them as an ends
—–> can be argues no act is other treating someone as means in themselves as there is always self gratification
For Kant what are moral statements
Apriori Synthetic
How does John Rawls support Kants Kingdom of Ends
Veil of ignorance, Thought experiment that we have to devise rules for a society before we knew our place, we would straight away ban all prejudices as we wouldn’t want be prejudiced, making the world how fit should be, this is the kingdom of ends
Reasons why Kant is helpful in practical moral decision making
- Avoids personal bias and different interpretation by enforcing one moral rule of duty
- universality enforces equality
- Duty and reason avoids emotion taking hold over decisions
- Doesn’t rely on predicting consequences
- values all humans correcting principle of utility
- Can be seen as secular
Reasons why Kant is not helpful in practical decision making
- It is absolutist so very inflexible
- Outcomes of situations can be predictable so should be considered sometimes
- Categorical imperatives can clash
- unrealistic view of how society operates and how humans make decisions
- universalisability is flawed because things that cant be universalised aren’t necessarily immoral like eating nuts
- Outdated
- Kant contradicts his theory by hypothesising about theological aspect, if this isnt true then his whole theory isnt reliable
- Human reason isn’t a reliable moral decision maker
How does MacIntyre criticise Kant
Perfect Duty
a duty where the maxim cannot be universalised due to a logical contradiction, a false promise
Imperfect Duty
maxims that preset situations that no rational person would desire or will
Why does right and wrong depend on duty
Duty is rational so doesn’t allow for emotion to influence it, also upholds respect of people
Why doesn’t right and wrong depend on duty
It doesn’t obey to everyday life and conflicting duties raise problems, duty can be in danger of being combined with authoritarianism
What was Kant influenced by and a part of
The enlightenment
What was the enlightenment
Expressed use of reason and scientific methods, political liberty to move away from authoritarian religions and states
How would Barth criticise Kants reliance on reason
Human reason is flawed and corrupt so only gods revelation can show people how to act morally
How does Kant rely on reason
He believes moral law is a product of reason, we can rationally understand the categorical imperative, upholds autonomy of people
How would Goleman and Aristotle criticise Kants reliance on reason
Aristotle expressed that there were irrational parts of the soul, Goleman also talks about embracing the emotional aspects of human nature more
How does Freud criticise Kants reliance on reason
Moral thinking is the subconscious drive produced by our upbringing, so it isn’t reason but more our instincts
How does SE criticise Kants reliance on reason
Agape is a better principle than duty and reason
How is Kants use of human reason warranted
- Moral duties are apriori and synthetic so come under the sphere of reason
- All people have ability to reason so by allowing people to use their reason this respects personal autonomy
- One fixed human nature and one fixed way of reasoning, so all people should come to the same conclusions about the categorical imperatives, like maths question
W.D Ross in kantians ethics
His prima facie duties attempt to define duties that are more important than others like fidelity and justice
How do the three postulates significantly weaken Kantian ethics
He pinned the whole purpose of his theory of doing duty to be rewarded for being moral on the existence of a god and afterlife
How would Kant counter argue the criticism of his three postulates
Doing Duty with the motive of the afterlife is wrong as duty should be motiveless only the fact that we worked it out to the be morally correct thing to do, reward for being moral is just a benefit not the motive
Psychological egoism
All acts have some sort of selfish motive, even if its self gratification
For Kant why can bad consequences of an action be acceptable if the action is good
The universe is fair so will work out in the ends, this is because of the summum bonus
Example of duties clashing
Promise to hide jewish family, but Nazis asking if there are jews in your house
