Kantiasm Flashcards
What is a deontological approach to morality
What did Kant believe in?
It is based on our sense of duty to do the right thing.
Kant believed consequences were irrelevant when making moral decisions because they cannot be predicted with accuracy and are out of our control.
What does Kant mean by the Good Will
(Example pf murder)
Kant argued actions aren’t good on their own. For example, choosing not to murder someone isn’t good because of what you’ve chosen to do, its only good if it comes from your sense of good will. It is our sense to do the right thing, and tells us to do what we have a duty to do.
What is the difference between Duty and Inclination
(Shop keeper analogy)
Since an action is only right based on our duty, meaning any other motivation is wrong. These motivations are called inclinations. While there is nothing wrong with inclinations, we shouldn’t be praised for them. This is because people who act from inclination are doing it because its their nature to do so. Meaning we only do things when we feel like, rather than when we have to.
He gives the example of a shopkeeper. The shop keeper always gives customers the correct change, out of fear of losing customers if he doesn’t. Kant would see this as the shop keeper doing it out of his own self interest, doing the right thing for the wrong reason.
What does Kant mean by the Sovereignty of Reason
This means we should use our reason to make moral decisions. For Kant, using our reason means we come to logical conclusions about what the right thing to do is. In Kant’s opinion, breaking moral rules is as illogical as 2 + 2 = 5. Important when making moral decisions because creates rules which are binding on everybody, meaning everyone should be using these as they are created out of pure logic.
What is a maxim
(example of stealing a wallet)
A maxim is a principle of behaviour, or in simpler terms a hypothetical action we can take. For example, you have the opportunity to steal a wallet. In this situation there are 2 possible actions you can take. Steal the money or don’t steal the money. When deciding how to act, we need to consider what maxims are appropriate.
What is the Universal Law Formation
A version of the Categorical Imperative which we can only act on a maxim if we were to act on it every single time. It means a maxim can only be acted on if everyone can act on the chosen maxim. The first thing he does is look for a contradiction in conception, meaning Kant is looking to see if the maxim can logically be acted on all the time. If one occurs, then we should never act on that maxim. This is called a perfect duty. For example, never lying, never stealing and never break a promise.
What is the difference between a perfect and an imperfect duty
Perfect Duty - We should always/never act on a maxim, no exceptions. It would be illogical to not do so.
Imperfect Duty - We should sometimes follow a maxim, but not always.
What is a contradiction in conception?
The action of checking to see if a maxim can be acted on all the time.
What is a contradiction in the will?
A logical maxim that we wouldn’t want to be acted on constantly, for example, “never help those in need”. We can logically imagine a world where everybody used this maxim, but we wouldn’t want to live in that type of world because we might need help one day.
What is the Ends in Itself Formulation?
This formulation tells us it is wrong to use someone as a mere means. Basically, it is wrong to use someone without their consent or not treat them with dignity and and respect.
He believed every person was a rational being who deserved to be treated with respect, if we lie or steal from someone, we aren’t treating them with respect and this is absolutely wrong.
What is a mere means?
Using people without their consent and not treating them with dignity and respect.
What is the Criticism of Conflicting Duties
Sometimes we have duties which conflict with each other in a given situation, for example: Your best friend is pregnant and makes you promise not to tell anyone, however her parents have suspicions and ask you directly. In this scenario we have a perfect duty to always tell the truth, which is more important? Kant doesn’t advise us on what we have to do if we end up in such a situation.
What is the Criticism of Problems with Motives
Kantians find moral worth of an action in its motive rather than consequences, However it might appear that consequences must have some role to play in our moral discussions. It is difficult to imagine anyone would oblige us to follow a maxim. In Kant’s defence, we could say Kant is not
What is the Criticism of the Enquiring Murder
This example illustrates the exceptionless nature of Kantian Ethics, This means that because it doesn’t allow for any exceptions, that we can sometimes do things considered morally wrong. For example, if your friend walked into your house to hide from an axe murderer, and the murderer asks you where your friend is hiding. In this situation you have the perfect duty to tell the truth and so you tell the murderer where your friend is hiding, and end up getting your friend killed.
What is the Criticism of Ignoring other Motives
Kant only focuses on the motive of duty when making moral decisions but what about other motives like compassion and love and respect. If we only did things because it its our duty to do them, would it not make the action less valuable? If you visit family out of duty, would that make the action less meaningful?
