Kantian Ethics

Question 1

For Kant what is morality?

Answer 1

Reason put into practice.

Question 2

What does a priori synthetic mean?

Answer 2

Gained through knowledge but tested in the real world.

Question 3

How is knowledge gained?

Answer 3

Through reason and logic.

Tested in the real world.

Question 4

What is the highest form of good?

Answer 4

The innate moral law within us.

Question 5

When we follow our duty we are acting out of what?

Answer 5

Good will.

Question 6

Kant believed that we choose to follow our duty. This makes us….?

Answer 6

Autonomous

Question 7

Why doesn’t Kant like following rules?

Answer 7

He believes that by following rules we are not following our duty. Something is only moral if we freely choose to do it.

Question 8

What leads to morality and therefore the summum bonum?

Answer 8

Reason and duty.

Not rules given by God.

Question 9

What does Kant use to test whether an action is moral or not?

Answer 9

The 3 pronged test.

Question 10

What is the word for the command that to want to test whether it is moral or not?

Answer 10

A maxim.

Question 11

What is the first point on the 3 pronged test?

Answer 11

Universalisation

Question 12

What does universalisation mean?

Answer 12

Only carry out an action that you are happy for everyone else to do the same (in every situation) must not contradict law of life.

Question 13

What is the second point on the 3 pronged test?

Answer 13

Treat people as ends not means.

Question 14

What does the second point on the 3 pronged test mean?

Answer 14

Treat people as you would want to be treated. Treat people for what they are not what you can get from them.

Question 15

What is the last point on the 3 pronged test?

Answer 15

Act as a law making member of the kingdom of ends.

Question 16

What does it mean to act as a law making member of the kingdom of ends?

Answer 16

To imagine a society where people are rational and act out of duty. In a perfect world would the maxim Work?

Question 17

If a maxim passes the 3 pronged test, what does it become?

Answer 17

A categorical imperative (the only moral action/ command)

Question 18

If a categorical imperative is the only moral command.. what is an immoral command?

Answer 18

A hypothetical imperative. If you do X you will achieve Y. You do an action to achieve an outcome. E.g. Utilitarianism.

Question 19

What is the summum bonum?

Answer 19

The supreme good.

Question 20

Explain what the summum bonum is. And where it exists.

Answer 20

It is a type of reward. That can’t exist on earth as suffering and evil exist. And good deeds aren’t always rewarded. And so this type of reward must be in the afterlife.

Question 21

How do we achieve the summum bonum?

Answer 21

Had rewards us as he is omnipotent and omnibenevolent.

Question 22

What are the 3 postulates (principles) that make him sure of the summum bonum?

Answer 22

1. Freedom
2. Immortality
3. God