‘Kantian ethics is so reliant on reason that it unduly rejects the importance of other factors, such as sympathy, empathy and love in moral decision-making’. Discuss.

Question 1

Paragraph 1- reason

Answer 1

-K argues for morality based on reason
-rejects HI as not genuine morality as they are claims ab what should do if have certain desire
-e.g. not lie if u want to appear honest
-believes in human reason to discover the CI (must be obeyed, applies to everyone regardless of circumstances)
-emotion not morally wrong but can’t be morally good. if act on emotion, action depends on how we feel
-if help others bc we feel like it then aren’t helping bc it’s good, aren’t acting morally unless out of duty not emotion

Question 2

P1- critique of reason

Answer 2

-acting in rational way that distances from feeling is difficult what if we have mixed motives of duty and emotion e.g. wanting to save our own child first, or concern for the poor etc
-Bernard Williams- K morality too narrow. require ‘one thought too many’ during moral action, virtuous person need not be thinking ab moral laws, simply do so out of habit

Question 3

Paragraph 2- KE too reliant on reason

Answer 3

-reason not way humans behave
-visit sick grandmother in hospital bc love her, uncaring and cold to visit bc I reasoned it should be done

Question 4

P2- critique of KE and reason

Answer 4

-reason better than feelings love or compassion clouds judgement
-K example of beggar- give to street beggar one day bc generous but next day ignore another beggar. if give bc it’s duty then will give to beggars everyday regardless of how feeling

Question 5

P2- response to critique of reason and KE

Answer 5

-consequences dismissed as irrelevant
-surely need to consider if anyone will be hurt by actions
-example if speeding wrong and fail to rush a dying man to hospital surely, we must feel guilty

Question 6

Paragraph 3- reject emotions

Answer 6

-if everyone followed emotions, world much worse place
-morals important to think beyond family and loyalties, rather should be focused on all humans
-if justice based on emotional connections between judge and jury, justice would be corrupted

Question 7

critique of rejection of emotions

Answer 7

-Benjamin Constant- can tell white lie for good motives
-duty to tell truth makes society impossible
-k argued shouldn’t lie to murdered who asks whether their who’s being pursued by the murder is at their house
-constant argues ‘no one has a right to truth that harms others’