Kantian Ethics

Question 1

What must you remember for Kantian Ethics

Answer 1

Kantian’s Duty

Hypothetical Imperative

Categorical Imperative
(+Three formulations)

Three Postulates

Question 2

What is Kantian Duty

Answer 2

Kant argued that we need good intentions and to do the right thing.

Kant argued that Duty isn’t doing things out of self interest or inclination (just because we feel like it)

Duty is what we do for a reason, such as a policeman always protecting the law as it is there duty - not their pay check

Question 3

What are the characteristics of Kantian Ethics

Answer 3

it is deontological, caring about the action rather than the end
it is absolutist

Question 4

What are the two types of imperatives within Kantian Ethics

Answer 4

Hypothetical

Categorical

Question 5

What is a hypothetical imperative within Kantian Ethics

Answer 5

A command you follow JUST to achieve the final result, e.g. STILL doing these flashcards to get a C minimum and get into university

Question 6

What is a categorical imperative within Kantian Ethics

Answer 6

A command you follow which doesn’t focus on the end result, e.g. learning about Kantian Ethics to genuinely learn about Kantian Ethics

Question 7

What is the principle of Autonomy within Kantian Ethics

Answer 7

To self govern and rule to make our own decisions, Kant believed that all humans have rationality and the ability to work out what the rules are

Question 8

What is a Maxim within Kantian Ethics

Answer 8

A word for moral rules or principles, e.g. do not steal other peoples food

Question 9

What imperative are the ‘three formulations’ linked to

Answer 9

Categorial imperative

Question 10

In Kantian Ethics there is the
three_____ (categorical)
and the
three_____

Answer 10

three formulations (categorical)

three postulates

Question 11

What are the Three Formulates within Kantian Ethics

Answer 11

Universal Law

Person as ends

Kingdom of ends

Question 12

What is the Universal law in the Three Formulates within Kantian Ethics

Answer 12

We should only do something if we are willing for everyone else to do it (if we can do it, the whole universe can)

Kant uses this to argue why we should never lie or hurt

Question 13

What is the Persons as ends in the Three Formulates within Kantian Ethics

Answer 13

We must respect other people because they are valuable in themselves, and not valuable because they can be used (intrinsic not instrumental value)

Kant explains that false promises are wrong because we are using the other person

Question 14

What is the Kingdom of ends in the Three Formulates within Kantian Ethics

Answer 14

We should act as if treating other people as ends in themselves were a universal law

Question 15

What are the Three Postulates in Kantian Ethics

Answer 15

1. We have free will, because if we didn’t we wouldn’t be set with moral responsibility
2. There is an afterlife, we get rewarded by staying good
3. God exists, as there must be someone to ensure justice within the universe

The Three Postulates are what Kant uses to make morality (and following it) make sense

Question 16

How can we apply Kantian Ethics

Answer 16

Business ethics - Forces people / higher ups to treat other people with respect and not as means to an end.

Also a shop keeper shouldn’t lie because he believes honesty is good for business (hypothetical) but he shouldn’t life because its the right thing to do (categorical)

Question 17

What are some strengths of Kantian Ethics

Answer 17

Good golden rule that links to religion ‘treat others as you wish them to treat you’

There is reason and duty

It’s ideas has ethics to why we should protect workers

Question 18

What are some weaknesses of Kantian Ethics

Answer 18

Kant is focused on actions, but outcomes matter too, we cannot just ‘ignore’ outcomes

Kantian ethics is too theoretical, people will lie anyway and be immoral

Kantian ethics is better at showing us things not to do rather than things to do