Moral Philosophy - Kantisum

Question 1

what are the main features?

Answer 1

• deontology
• duty vs inclination
• the categorical imperative
• maxims
• hypothetical and categorical imperatives
• the universal law formulation
• end in itself formulation

Question 2

what are the 3 criticisms of Kantianism?

Answer 2

• problem with intentions
• problem with duties
• problem with maxims

Question 3

who was Kantianism proposed by?

Answer 3

Immanuel Kant

Question 4

what is deontology?

Answer 4

the moral worth of an act must come from something intrinsic to the act itself rather than extrinsic

Question 5

what is the duty ethic approach to deontology?

Answer 5

moral rightness of an act is determined by the intentions of the act. Those intentions should always be your duty.

Question 6

what is duty vs inclination?

Answer 6

• people who act from inclination should not be praised as it is outwith our control
• duty is acting simply because you know it is the right thing to do e.g giving the right people change to not lose custom is not a moral intention just a sensible one

Question 7

what does kant believe we should be praised for?

Answer 7

we should be praised for those things we have freely and consciously chosen to do.

Question 8

what are maxims?

Answer 8

general rules of behaviour which we can then apply to particular situations

Question 9

how do we work out what maxims to use?

Answer 9

comparing the hypothetical and categorical imperatives

Question 10

what is a categorical imperative?

Answer 10

commands which apply equally and universally to everyone regardless of any goals you have

Question 11

what are hypothetical imperatives?

Answer 11

• if you want A then do B

- if you don’t care about achieving the end then the action is not binding to you

Question 12

what does end mean in philosophy?

Answer 12

result

Question 13

what is an example of a categorical imperative?

Answer 13

‘always keep your promises’

- you would not be doing this action ‘to get more money’ but only because it is the right thing to do

Question 14

what is an example of a hypothetical imperative?

Answer 14

A : I don’t want to be embarrassed in front of my friends

B: to achieve this I won’t go clubbing with my mother and wear pink flared jeans

Question 15

what is the universal law formulation?

Answer 15

suggests that all moral laws (maxims) should be universable