Kantian Ethics

Question 1

What are deontological ethics?

Answer 1

An action has to be good in itself, not because the product of it is good. Some actions are morally obligatory regardless of consequences for human welfare

Question 2

What book did Kant write the Categorial Imperative in?

Answer 2

‘The Groundworks of the Metaphysics of Morals’

Question 3

What sort of reason does Kant use for his ethics? Why?

Answer 3

A priori reasoning. He didn’t want to make ethical decisions from experience, instead wanting moral principles to be arrived at through reason alone

Question 4

What is Good Will?

Answer 4

Acting in accordance with duty and only for the sake of duty. The only pure motive of an action - all other qualities have the potential to be misused (eg someone might be kind because it made them feel good)

Question 5

What is a Kant quote about goodwill?

Answer 5

‘it is impossible to conceive of anything at all in the world, or even out of it, which can be taken as good without qualification, except good will’

Question 6

What is duty?

Answer 6

Acting morally according to what is good regardless of consequences (while clearly not being forced to)

Question 7

What does Kant say are duties to ourselves?

Answer 7

• Not committing suicide
• Not lusting after people or things
• Not being drunk
• Not being greedy
• Not lying
• Not acting in a way that undervalues yourself

Question 8

What does Kant say are duties to other people?

Answer 8

• Be generous, grateful, sympathetic
• Respect others as equals/individuals

Question 9

What does Jean-Paul Sartre say about conflicting duties?

Answer 9

• Describes a pupil torn between looking after his mother in France or going to England to fight with the Free French Forces.
• ‘I find myself drawn into a vicious circle.’ Which should he follow?

Question 10

What is a Kant quote about the Categorical and Hypothetical imperatives?

Answer 10

‘All imperatives command either hypothetically or categorically… if the action would be good simply as a means to something else, then the imperative is hypothetical; but if the action is good in itself.. then the imperative is categorical.’

Question 11

What is the Hypothetical Imperative?

Answer 11

Doing something to achieve a certain end. Doing an action because you want to get something out of it - this is not moral to Kant. Eg. you should give money to charity because it is your duty to, not because doing so would make you feel good

Question 12

What’s a criticism of the hypothetical imperative?

Answer 12

Many people think the result of an action should be considered as an important ethical consideration. If an outcome hurts another person, most people would feel morally guilty which wouldn’t be positive for either parties

Question 13

What are the three formulations of the categorical imperative?

Answer 13

• Formula of the law of nature
• Formula of the end in itself
• Formula of the kingdom of ends

Question 14

What is the formula of the law of nature?

Answer 14

• ‘Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law’
• For an action to be morally valid the person must believe that in the same situation others would act in the same way

Question 15

What two questions should you ask yourself about the formula of the law of nature?

Answer 15

• Is it logically possible for everyone to act like this?
• ## Do you rationally want everybody to act in this way?

Question 16

What did Kant decide to be wrong from the formula of the law of nature?

Answer 16

• Breaking a promise
• Laziness
• Suicide
• Lying
• All of these wouldn’t be logically universalisable and would lead to societal breakdown

Question 17

What is a Benjamin Constant’s negative critique of the formula of the law of nature?

Answer 17

• If we can’t lie society becomes impossible. White lies keep people sane - no one has the right to a truth that would harm others

Question 18

What did Alastair MacIntyre say about Kant’s ethics (quote)

Answer 18

‘all I need to do is to characterise the proposed action in such a way that the maxim will permit me to do what I want while prohibiting others from doing what will nullify to action if universalised’

Question 19

How does JS Mill criticise Kantian ethics?

Answer 19

The Categorical Imperative turns Kant into a consequentialist. This is because when looking at whether an action can be universalised, we’re considering the effects of universalising it. This contradicts Kant’s own beliefs because he isn’t a utilitarian and doesn’t want to consider effects.

Question 20

What is the formula of the end in itself? (quote)

Answer 20

‘Act that you treat humanity… never merely as a means, but always at the same time as an end.’

Question 21

Why doesn’t Kant like utilitarianism? (shown by the formula of the end in itself)

Answer 21

• Utilitarianism allows minority to suffer if the majority are happy
• Kant believes this uses the minority as a means to the majority’s happiness, taking away the minority’s free will and autonomy
• You cannot use someone as a means to your ends

Question 22

What does the formula of the end in itself lead Kant to reject?

Answer 22

Slavery

Question 23

In what way did Kant believe it was ok to use people for means?

Answer 23

If you went to see a doctor, for example. However, don’t treat them as solely a means

Question 24

What is the Formula of the Kingdom of Ends? (quote)

Answer 24

‘Act as if (you are) a legislating member in the universal kingdom of ends’

Question 25

What is the general idea of the Formula of the Kingdom of Ends?

Answer 25

Act as if you are someone making the laws in the Kingdom of Ends, a society where all people are entitled to be treated as ends and not means

Question 26

What would ideal legislative conditions be for the kingdom of ends?

Answer 26

• Members can only legislate laws that are universal in form
• Members will ‘abstract from personal differences’ (eg disregard factors that distinguish people like height, weight, race, etc)

Question 27

What are critiques of the Formula of the Kingdom of Ends?

Answer 27

• Presents an idealistic worldview. We often can’t avoid treating people as a means. What if there are soldiers who have to be given orders which endanger them during war for the greater good?
• Tells you what types of actions are good but not the right thing to do is in particular situations. Possibly useless in times of stress