kantian ethics

Question 1

what is kantian ethics’ made of

Answer 1

deontological, rationality, good will,

Question 2

definition of the categorical imperative

Answer 2

an unconditional moral obligation which is binding in all circumstances - i ought to do this

Question 3

what is a maxim

Answer 3

refers to a person’s intention for actions

Question 4

kant’s deontological approach

Answer 4

moral value is not judged by the consequences of the act but by the act itself. we are all obligated to act morally and so obey the moral law irrelevant of consequences. certain acts are intrinsically good and bad

Question 5

rationality

Answer 5

knowledge of moral laws can be gained through reason.

Question 6

kant background context

Answer 6

his approach was typical of the enlightenment period of 18th century europe, which was known as the age of reason.

Question 7

what is an imperative

Answer 7

something that must be done

Question 8

what is a hypothetical imperative

Answer 8

an action considered as right depending upon a condition and takes the form of i ought to do X if it will bring Y

Question 9

kant’s 1st categorical imperative

Answer 9

formula of the law of nature - whereby a maxim can be established as universal law.
some actions can be right/wrong despite the culture/circumstance at the time eg rape, or slavery which are always bad.

Question 10

kant’s 2nd categorical imperative

Answer 10

formula of the end in itself - whereby people are treated as the ends in themselves not a means to an end.
Kant believed humans were the pinnacle of creation, therefore it can never be moral to exploit people to use them as a means to an end.
contrasts teleological thinking where the ends justify the means

Question 11

kant’s 3rd categorical imperative

Answer 11

formula of the kingdom of ends - whereby a hypothetical ideal society of rationality is established
we should only include maxims that we would be willing to live by in a kingdom.

Question 12

what is the summum bonum

Answer 12

the highest good - where true virtue, duty and happiness come together.

Question 13

what are kant’s three postulates

Answer 13

1. freedom - an action is only moral if that choice has been made freely rather than coerced.
2. immortality - experience tells us that virtuous actions are not always rewarded by happiness, they may attract criticism or pain. since it is logical that perfect virtue ought to result in perfect happiness, it must exist - if it doesnt happen in this life, God must grant it to us in the next life.
3. God - if there is another life in which humans can achieve immortality - then God is the necessary connection between virtue and happiness.

Question 14

kant is good

Answer 14

1. clear
2. secular
3. not based on fleeting emotion + personal/national self-interest.
   -human rights!

Question 15

kant is bad

Answer 15

1. inflexible eg stealing bread
2. doesnt escape God - 3 postulates
3. assumption of people’s capacity to reason
4. conflicting duties - absolutism
5. described as abstract form reality

Question 16

applied Kantian ethics - Kuwait

Answer 16

British spies were placed on a flight into Kuwait in order to gather intel. However, citizens who were on this flight were taken hostage in the airport.

Question 17

applied kantian ethics - coventry bombings

Answer 17

british intelligence couldnt alert coventry population to german bombers as they had aquired that knowledge through breaking the enigma code and couldn’t alert the germans to their discovery. this shortened the war approx 2 years. but had to treat people as a means to an end

Question 18

what does sartre highlight and kant response

Answer 18

he challenges kantian ethics’ sense of duty by suggesting what would happen if you had two duties eg duty to fight the nazis but you also had a duty to care for your sick mother.
kant replies that you can reason your way into finding the correct moral action or you should attempt to do both.

Question 19

what is goodwill says kant

Answer 19

a jewel

Question 20

what does thomas aquinas write on the topic that humans’ innate a priori sense of right and wrong

Answer 20

he says there are ‘apparent goods’ and ‘real goods’ which are hard to distinguish

Question 21

example of when humans are inconsistent in their views of right and wrong

Answer 21

abortion for non-religious motivations
euthanasia

Question 22

what does kant reply to thomas aquinas about inconsistency and untrustworthyness

Answer 22

he says shtat goodwill is the only consistent idea as all humans have reason.

Question 23

kant quote about duty

Answer 23

‘duty for duty’s sake’

Question 24

what does fletcher say about kant

Answer 24

he leaves no room for emotion or love in moral decision-making which makes his theory cold and inhuman
AXE MURDERER ANALOGY by benjamin constant- an axe murderer comes to your door and asks the whereabouts of your friend who you now is in your house. you must tell him where your friend is despite the outcome as lying is bad

Question 25

kant quote about lying

Answer 25

’ a lie is a lie and in itself intrinsically evil, whether it be told in good or bad intents’

Question 26

a. c. Ewing critique of Kant

Answer 26

‘its hard to believe there is a duty to produce less good when we could produce more’

Question 27

freud inconsistency

Answer 27

our moral thinking is due to our subconscious drives but kant is saying our moral thinking is due to our reason.

Question 28

benjamin constant

Answer 28

axe murderer

Question 29

macintyre critique of 1st formula

Answer 29

niche maxims
whilst it is cynical it is relevabt

Question 30

fletcher mrs bergamier

Answer 30

woman is in labour camp and you cant leave only if youre pregnant. she goes to a guard to get him to impregnate her. this is bad to kant as youre using the man as a means to an end, but good to utilitarians as she has left.