Kantian Ethics Flashcards
Why is morality based on reason
Creates a harmonious society where everyone would have the potential to agree about morality. If it was based on anything else then there is no way to agree.
How can we discover universal moral law?
Through reason - it is our duty to follow it.
Why do we follow our duty?
The good will is the only right moral motivation. We should not do it because of our own personal feelings or desires.
What is the categorical imperative?
‘Do X’. Morality cannot be dependent on our personal feelings so our duty must be categorical not hypothetical.
3 Formulations of the categorical imperative.
- Only do an action if it is universalizable.
- Always treat people as an end, not as a means towards an end.
- Act as if you live in a kingdom of ends.
What are moral statements?
A priori, synthetic statements e.g. murder is wrong. Related to how we find things out through reason but how we can check things empirically.
Clashing duties - strengths (there are none)
-Clear strength of Kantian ethics that there is ethical clarity. It’s precise rules mean that there is a clear method for figuring out rules.
-Imperfect and Perfect duties
What is the difference between imperfect and perfect duties?
There are multiple ways to fulfil an imperfect duty such as a soldier staying home and making bombs in order to help his country. To not fulfil a perfect duty is to go against the laws of nature - such as lying as it doesn’t fit in with the categorical imperative and it’s formulations.
Clashing duties - weaknesses
Sartre claimed duties can clash through the use of a metaphor of whether a solider stays home to look after his sick parent or goes to war to defend his country. Both are duties - therefore duties can clash.
Strength of ignoring emotions - kant
Emotions are unreliable as they are transient and subjective. Respect for the moral law is more important. Acting on emotions isn’t morally wrong, it just isn’t morally good. E.g. helping out those in need due to sympathy. It’s not wrong, but it isn’t doing it because of the good will.
Weakness of ignoring emotions - kant
Michael Stocker uses the example of a friend visiting you in hospital and saying it was because it was their duty. Unrealistic to not recognise emotions as the core motivation of why we do things.
What did B. Williams argue about Kantian Morality?
Requires ‘one thought too many’ and is unnatural. A virtuous person need not be thinking about moral laws when doing good.
Aristotle’s view on emotions in ethics
Although emotions can be unreliable, we can rationally work on ourselves, trying to develop good emotional habits of behaviour (the CULTIVATING VIRTUE). Therefore we can be in control of our emotions and they can be relied upon in moral situations. For example, cultivate the virtue of friendliness, and then act out of love when visiting your friend in the hospital.
Why Kant’s critique of consequentialism is strong?
Kant presents the issue of calculation as a strength of his deontological approach. We cannot control consequences, so we cannot be responsible for them.
Consequentialist theories may treat others as a means to an end, and sacrifice them - Kant doesn’t. Telos valuing theories may cause actions that are not universalizable.
Why is Kant’s criticism of consequentialism weak?
Goes against moral intuitions telling us to care about the outcomes of the situation. For example, murderer asking us where our friends are hiding. Kant claims that we are not in control of the consequences but that is NOT true. We can control them to some degree.
