Moral - Kantian Ethics

Question 1

What are 4 criticisms of KE?

Answer 1

• Conflicting duties
• Not all maxims are moral; not all non-universifiable maxims are immoral
• Consequences don’t determine moral value
• Morality is a system of hypotheticals, not categorical imperatives (Philippa Foot)

Question 2

What does kant mean by the ‘good will’?

Answer 2

Good without qualification; when someone acts for the sake of duty this gives an action moral worth (deontology)

The good will is purely good and the source of moral value - goods such as happiness, wealth, intelligence etc can lead to bad

Question 3

What is the distinction between acting in accordance with duty and acting out of duty? (Morally right vs morally good)

Answer 3

Shopkeeper example (honest shopkeepers)
- Acting in accordance: lacks moral worth
- Acting out of duty: for the sake of good will, has moral worth

Question 4

What is a hypothetical imperative?

Answer 4

• Ought statement
• Depends on a goal “if you want to get fit, you ought to exercise”
• Links to good, but not morally
• Not moral imperatives because actions motivated by personal goals lack moral worth

Question 5

What is a categorical imperative?

Answer 5

• Moral laws that should be universal and apply to everyone regardless of desires
• Unconditional and absolute statements
• “You ought to keep your promises,” is not reliant on desire or goals; it is obligatory, and the only ‘moral ought’

Question 6

Outline the issue from Foot that morality is a system of hypothetical imperatives?

Answer 6

Moral laws are not categorical in the way Kant thinks; morality is a system of hypothetical imperatives because motivations (goals) for them are obvious with rational reasons provided, whereas the reason for categorical imperatives are not clear “why shouldn’t we [steal/murder/etc]?”

Question 7

Outline the issue that Kant ignores the value of certain motives (e.g. love, kindness…)

Answer 7

Kant argues that acting for duty’s sake is the only source of moral worth, which neglects the value of other motives, e.g. paying a visit to an ill friend, motivated by concern for the friend would lack moral worth, however begrudgingly visiting out of duty would have moral worth, discouraging care for others