Kantian Ethics

Question 1

Kant’s general views on God

Answer 1

He did believe in God and the after life but was suspicious of relying on religious doctrine.

Question 2

Absolutist

Answer 2

To Kant, moral law was not hypothetical, there are universal maxims that must always apply.

Question 3

Kant’s general views on morality

Answer 3

Morality is objective. It is framed by concepts and categories, and can be deduced through reason, rather than experience or emotion.
Good people follow moral law through good will and duty. By doing this we will experience “the good life”.

Question 4

Summum bonum

Answer 4

There is a supreme good which brings happiness to all, which humans are free to pursue due to our ability to be rational.

Question 5

Reason

Answer 5

Reason is universal whereas experience can be wrong as it is merely a perception based on senses.

Question 6

Duty

Answer 6

Our duty, according to Kant, is “to do good to others, where one can, is a duty”.
Doing good because you get an inner sense of pleasure by spreading joy is not truly moral, however this does not mean it is wrong.

Question 7

Good will

Answer 7

Duty for duty’s sake.
Doing good because you get an inner sense of pleasure by spreading joy is not truly moral, however this does not mean it is wrong.
It is not virtuous.
Our moral obligation is that we “ought” to do something.

Question 8

Specific duties

Answer 8

Kant developed a system of developing moral judgements by establishing specific duties to ourselves and others.
These include:
Strive for self perfection and the well-being of others
Pursue the greater good, not one’s own happiness
Innate right to freedom
Duty not to destroy ourselves
Duty not to make false promises
Avoid drunkenness
Right to private property and ownership.

Question 9

Specific duties and the state

Answer 9

The state should protect our specific duties (human rights)

Question 10

Knowledge

Answer 10

We have knowledge prior to experience.
This knowledge is a universal feature.
“though all our knowledge begins with experience, it does not follow that it arises out of experience”

Question 11

Analytic statements

Answer 11

Truth within themselves.

They are judgements of clarification.

Question 12

Synthetic statements

Answer 12

They must be tested for the truth, and if they are true it adds new information to the subject.

Question 13

Moral judgements as propositions

Answer 13

Moral propositions are synthetic. They bring additional information from outside of the experience. This additional information is the moral law that reason reveals. You have to look at what people ought to do, not just what they actually do.
Moral knowledge is therefore a priori synthetic.

Question 14

The hypothetical imperative

Answer 14

It commands behaviour for an end. You have to follow the command if you pursue the desired result.
Based on “if”.
This is WRONG, according to Kant.
We should look to the moral law which binds us unconditionally.
The actions would be good simply as means to something else.

Question 15

The categorical imperative

Answer 15

This states that you ought to do something regardless of ones particular desires and inclinations and do not depend on the expected results and consequences of an action. By using our reason we can recognise that it is our duty to act accordingly.
The action is represented as good in itself.

Question 16

The universal law principle

Answer 16

Our moral behaviour must be consistent through out our life and everyone else’s.
It must apply to any situation or culture.
Maxims that could not be universalised would be self-defeating.
e.g. lying is always wrong as it always brings about harm.
General laws for everyone eliminate self interest and develop good will.

Question 17

Treat humans as ends in themselves

Answer 17

Human individuals are ends and we should not treat them as means to an end. We should not treat people as minorities or as an end to our own happiness. We should regard the intrinsic quality of human beings.

Question 18

Act as if you live in a kingdom of ends

Answer 18

We must imagine the happiest world we can when searching for universal laws. We are all rational agents so will coincide, and any disagreements can be solved by rational arguments.

Question 19

The 3 postulates

Answer 19

“must be assumed to exist”
Freedom + summum bonum
Immortality
God

Question 20

Freedom + summum bonum

Answer 20

Autonomy.
We must have freedom to use reason and make moral choices.
Summum bonum will be achieved if everyone considers universal laws.
Freedom is the highest degree of life, to choose moral law over all our desires. We should act consistently rather than impulsively. Freedom ensures moral responsibility.

Question 21

Immortality

Answer 21

People who follow moral duty and are not rewarded in this life will be rewarded in the next. It ensures correct happiness.
Sacrificial acts of duty are possible.

Question 22

God

Answer 22

He is implied.
We are created rational beings - he is the creator
There is an 'absolute law' for God. 
Heavens = god's rewards. 
Reason>revelation.

Question 23

Strengths of Kantian ethics

Answer 23

When tested, the categorical imperative is successful for some maxims.
Seeks to raise the status of human beings and avoids selfish rule-making.
Doesn’t require a religious belief but still carries hope of an afterlife.
Easy to apply
Egalitarian
Consistent - no one is favoured.
It honours respect and dignity.

Question 24

Weaknesses of Kantian ethics

Answer 24

Many selfish or cruel maxims can be permitted using the categorical imperative.
Some people have a better ability to reason than others, does this make them more intrinsically valuable?
Inflexible - doesn’t regard situations, making is less useful in the modern world.

Question 25

L.Pojman

Answer 25

Criticises Kantian ethics.

The categorical imperative is not always successful, anything can be universalised.

Question 26

Duty CAN be linked to morality

Answer 26

Moral behaviour is about human improvement - when we act properly we become happier and so does society.

Question 27

Duty CANT be linked to morality

Answer 27

It is not always clear what our duty is. There could be several reasons on why we should act in a certain way.
Inner motivations can easily get in the way.
Is our happiness or love more important?
Is it our duty to consider consequences?

Question 28

Kantian ethics is too abstract

Answer 28

It is separate from emotions, but moral decisions are often made in challenging situations where we are under immense pressure.
It can feel like a constraint on imperfect humans
Not helpful in no-win situations.

Question 29

Kantian ethics isn’t too abstract

Answer 29

Emotions lead to selfishness, it is better to leave them out.

Question 30

Kantian ethics DOES reject the importance of sympathy and love

Answer 30

Feelings should motivate moral responses.
It is difficult to act in a rational way sometimes.
Loyalties matter

Question 31

Kantian ethics DOESNT reject the importance of sympathy and love

Answer 31

Feelings lead us astray

Justice is about the consistence and fair application of law.