KANTS DEONTOLOGICAL ETHICS

Question 1

what is a “good will”

Answer 1

good without qualification. To have good will is to fulfil your duty, for the reason that it is your duty. The good will is intrinsic to itself. The only good in the world.

Question 2

is good will always good?

Answer 2

A good meaning agent, may act for the sake of duty, yet the actions may be counterintuitive and cause pain.

Question 3

what is acting in accordance with duty?

Answer 3

an agent performs the duties with motives other than because its a duty. The action has no moral worth.

Question 4

what is acting out of duty

Answer 4

acting with duty being the motivation of the action. kant believes this type of action holds moral worth

Question 5

what is a hypothetical imperative

Answer 5

an ‘ought’ statement. The first part of the statement gives the condition in which we aspire to . ‘If you want a cup of tea, you must boil water’. the second part tells us what to do in order to fulfil the condition. The ought is conditional upon the desire. These are not specifically moral imperatives. Lack universality as they are based on partial desires.

Question 6

what are categorical imperatives

Answer 6

universally apply to everyone, regardless of their particular desires. categorical imperatives hold moral worth as they are unconditional.

Question 7

categorical imperative (first formulation)

Answer 7

Act only on that maxim if you can will it to be a universal law without contradiction

Question 8

helping others - universality.

Answer 8

someone is doing well, he sees that others need help, but is not inclined to help.
step 1.the underlining maxim is something like : I will not help those in distress when i easily could, through selfishness
step 2a. can you conceive of a world with this maxim. It is possible.
step2b. can we rationally will that this be a universal law. kant says no. it is absurd to consistently will this, it is a contradiction in will.