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Ethics > Kantian Ethics > Flashcards

Kantian Ethics Flashcards

1
Q

What kind of theory is Kantian ethics?

A

Absolutist and deontological.

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2
Q

What is duty?

A

acting morally according to the good regardless of consequence

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3
Q

What does deontological mean?

A

Focuses on actions rather than outcomes

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4
Q

What does absolutist mean?

A

Good and bad are fixed

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5
Q

What is a moral act according to Kant?

A

-having the right reason to perform the action
-anything other than good will is good due to qualifications.

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6
Q

What is the only thing which is intrinsically good to Kant?

A

Good will

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7
Q

What is the only good will we can have when it comes to morality?

A

Duty

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8
Q

Why should humans do their duty?

A

‘duty for duty sake’
not for reward.

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9
Q

What are the two false intentions Kant rules out?

A

-Basing our views of right and wrong on consequence
-Basing our views on inclination because emotions change

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10
Q

Explain Kant shopkeeper example.

A

-shopkeeper who could cheat the customer but doesn’t
-due to the consequence being good they aren’t acting morally
-If the shopkeeper simply gives the right amount of change that is a moral act because there are no bad or good consequences.

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11
Q

How do we know what our moral duties are?

A

use reason to distinguish between hypothetical imperatives and categorical imperatives

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12
Q

what is a maxim?

A

rule that we follow when we perform an action.

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13
Q

how do we identify our duty?

A

-when we do action there is a rule ( maxim).
-e.g if u choose to steal bread to survive the maxim is ‘stealing is permissible
-identify if it is a duty you must work out the command behind the maxim

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14
Q

What is a hypothetical imperative?

A

An act an individual performs to achieve a desired outcome.

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15
Q

What kinds of actions is a hypothetical imperative?

A

Amoral actions-actions neither moral or immoral.

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16
Q

What are examples of hypothetical imperatives?

A

if i want to avoid detention then ill do my homework.

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17
Q

What are the 3 formulations Kant offered?

A

-universal law
-persons as end
-kingdom of ends

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18
Q

What is the third form?

A

Clarification of the first and second

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19
Q

What is universal law?

A

everyone should act in the same way without exceptions
-cant be logical contradictions
-and it must be something a rational person can do.

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20
Q

what are two types of duties?

A

perfect and imperfect duties.

21
Q

What is a perfect duty?

A

If the maxim can’t be universalised this means there is a logical contradiction.

22
Q

What are examples of perfect duties?

A

‘do not steal’ cannot be universalised because then no one would own anything.

23
Q

What is a imperfect duty?

A

When the maxim has no logical contradictions however no rational person would desire to do it.

24
Q

What is an example of an imperfect duty?

A

Helping those i need people don’t sincerely or want to be in a world where people are in need.

25
Q

Explain Kant’s famous axe murder example.

A

-if there was a axe murderer at the door asking for his next victim
-Kant argues the individual is morally obliged to tell the truth and that isn’t the immoral act
-the immoral act comes from the murderer’s act of wanting to kill the victim

26
Q

What is persons as ends?

A

-how does it treat people
-we should treat people as end of themselves
-treat others as free rational beings with respect and dignity

27
Q

what is an example of using a person as means to and end?

A

-for example to make ex jealous you pretend to date another guy
-this is not permissible as your using there means to your end by making them jealous.

28
Q

What is Kant’s key point when arguing this persons of ends idea?

A

that we shouldn’t merely or solely do it.

29
Q

What is kingdom of ends?

A

Would i allow this if i was a law making member in an imaginary world.

30
Q

What does the third test of maxim remind us of?

A

duty and responsibilities.

31
Q

What are the 3 things Kant beleive should be postulated in order or objective and moral duties.

A

Freedom
Immortality
God

32
Q

What does the noumnal and phenomna argue?

A

That the postulations cannot be proved but can be assumed in order for morality to exist

33
Q

Explain the assumption of freedom?

A

-cannot be morally responisble until you are free
-‘ought implies can’

34
Q

Explain the assumption of immortality.

A

-duty to aim for sommum bonum
-it is achieves when perfect virture is rewarded by perfect happiness
-it is not achieved in this life it is duty which means it is possible to achieve

35
Q

Explain the assumption of God?

A

There must be God for the universe to be just and that virtue is rewarded by happiness

36
Q

What are strengths of Kant’s reliance on reason?

A

-It is much more reliable as emotion doesn’t get taken into account cannot be manipulated
-if there is one fixed human nature then we all come to the same conclusion theoretically this seems good.

37
Q

What are weaknesses of Kant’s reliance on reason?

A

-St Augustine is human reason actually reliable
-There are limits to our human reason noumena

38
Q

What are strengths of Duty?

A

-Duty is a good concept as our inclination and what we desire is subject to change.
-simple principle to follow

39
Q

What are weaknesses of Duty?

A

-Problems with duty conflicts, doesn’t tell us what to do when they do conflict
-Outcome would still end up being important e.g axe murderer still feel guilty

40
Q

What are strengths of universal law?

A

-James Rachel, a system of consistent rules works as if we were allowed to break rules which are consequences then the legal system would be a mess
-Prichard, kant’s theory is something that even a child is able to follow

41
Q

What are weaknesses of universal law?

A

-It doesnt show us our moral duties alone. as non moral duties are also able to be logically universalised and also thre is no way of knowing the difference between amoral and moral duties.
-Just because something cannot be universalised doesnt mean its a immoral act.

42
Q

What are strengths of Persons as ends?

A

-values a person
-reflects modern views of justice

43
Q

What is a weakness of person as end?

A

Too naiive and idealistic Karl Popper argues that a good theory is one that can be put in practise.

44
Q

What is an advantage and disadvantage of kingdom of ends?

A

Strength:Focuses on the idea of a better world
Weakness:too abstract and theoretical

45
Q

What are strengths of the 3 postulations?

A

-justifies the theory
-three neccessary parts that logically fit together

46
Q

What are 3 weaknesses of the 3 postulations?

A

-No such thing as freedom as everything we do practically relies on culture class and upbringing (deterministic)
-some don’t believe in an afterlife and its not motivating to be told that you wont be rewarded in this life

47
Q

What are advantages of the theory being deontoglical?

A

-universally applicable
-removes emotions so is less vulnerable to corruption.

48
Q

Disadvantages of the hypothetical imperetive?

A

-individualistic
-tyranny of the majority
-Mccloskey racism example

49
Q

Advantages of the hypothetical imperative?

A

-flexible
-avoids rule clash which makes it much more easier to use practically

Ethics (4 decks)

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