Moral Philosophy - Kantianism Flashcards
What was Kant?
A deontologist.
What is deontology sometimes known as?
Duty Ethics.
What is the only motive of any worth for Kant?
Duty.
What is acting for duty?
Doing something because you know it is the right thing to do.
What is the problem of conflicting duties?
You may have multiple duties at once, when you cannot follow both.
What is the moral rightness of an act determined by, for Kant?
The intentions or motives of the act.
What doesn’t matter to Kant?
Consequences.
What is a maxim?
A general rule of behaviour which we can then apply to a particular situation.
What are underlying principles of an action?
Maxims.
What is inclination?
What you would do, based on your nature.
What is Kant’s view on inclination?
He says we should only be praised for things we have freely and consciously chosen to do.
What is ‘a good will’?
The only thing unquestionably good.
What is using someone as a means?
Using someone to achieve your goal.
What is a contradiction in conception?
When the maxim can not be conceived as universal law without contradiction.
What is a contradiction in the will?
When a maxim makes sense logically but no one would want it.
