The issues of clashing duties & Kantian autonomy

Question 1

What is one of the clearest strengths of Kantian ethics?

Strenght

Answer 1

Ethical clarity.

Question 2

How does Kantian ethics provide ethical clarity?

Strength

Answer 2

Kant offers precise rules and a method for figuring them out, accessible to all rational beings.

Question 3

How does Kantian ethics differ from asserting rules from external authority?

Strength

Answer 3

Kantian ethics does not assert rules from external authority; instead, it allows individuals to recognize the rationality of moral rules through their own reason.

Question 4

What role does autonomy play in Kantian ethics?

Strength

Answer 4

Kantian ethics engages the autonomy of the individual, fostering the development of a civilized democratic society.

Through allowing people responsibility over their actions.

Question 5

What is the issue of clashing duties in Kantian ethics?

Weakness

Answer 5

Clashing duties arise when one is incapable of fulfilling all moral obligations, even if obtained through the categorical imperative.

Question 6

What does Kant’s principle ‘ought implies can’ suggest?

Weakness

Answer 6

It suggests that for an action to be considered a duty, one must be capable of doing it.

Question 7

According to Sartre, can Kantian ethics provide objective guidance for ethical views?

Weakness

Answer 7

No, Sartre, an existentialist, argues that Kantian ethics cannot provide objective guidance, as there can’t be any objective standards for ethical views.

Question 8

Provide an example illustrating the issue of clashing duties.

Weakness

Answer 8

Sartre’s illustration of a soldier torn between going to war to defend their country and staying home to care for their sick parent demonstrates clashing duties, where both options are universalizable but cannot both be fulfilled.

Question 9

What critique does Sartre offer regarding Kantian ethics and moral clarity?

Weakness

Answer 9

Sartre suggests that Kantian ethics fails to provide the moral clarity needed by the enlightenment conception of an autonomous individual.

Question 10

What is Kant’s response to the objection of clashing duties in his ethics?

Evaluation defending Kantian ethics

Answer 10

Kant claims that if we perceive clashing duties, we have not used our reason properly and distinguishes between perfect and imperfect duties.

Question 11

How does Kant differentiate between perfect and imperfect duties?

Evaluation defending Kant

Answer 11

Perfect duties have only one way of fulfillment, while imperfect duties offer multiple ways.

Question 12

What is an example of a perfect duty according to Kant?

Evaluation defending Kant

Answer 12

Telling the truth, as there is only one way to fulfill this duty - by avoiding lying.

Question 13

How does Kant argue that imperfect duties do not clash?

Evaluation defending Kant

Answer 13

Imperfect duties, such as caring for a sick relative or defending one’s country, offer multiple options for fulfillment, allowing individuals to choose options that do not clash.

Question 14

Why do perfect duties never clash?

Evaluation defending Kant

Answer 14

Perfect duties are negative and involve refraining from certain actions, making it always possible to simply do nothing, as negative actions cannot clash.

Question 15

Evaluation defending kant: full paragraph

Answer 15

Kant’s response to this objection is to claim that if we think there are clashing duties, we are haven’t used our reason properly. He distinguished between perfect duties, where there is only one way of fulfilling them, and imperfect duties, where there are multiple ways of fulfilling them. We have a perfect duty to tell the truth because there is only one way we can fulfil our duty to tell the truth, and that is to avoid lying. However, in the case of looking after a sick relative or fighting for your country, there are multiple ways in which these duties could be fulfilled. You could pay for someone else to look after your sick family member, or help the country’s war effort while remaining at home, perhaps by working in a factory, while then also being able to look after your sick family member. Kant’s response is successful because it is possible to fulfil both duties because they are imperfect meaning they have multiple options for fulfilment which lets you choose the options that do not clash.

Perfect duties never clash because they are negative, i.e., simply involve refraining from certain actions (stealing, lying, etc). It will always be possible to simply do nothing. Negative actions cannot clash.

Question 16

How does Kant respond to the objection of clashing duties through imperfect duties?

Evaluation criticising Kantian ethics

Answer 16

Kant argues that imperfect duties offer multiple means of fulfillment, allowing individuals to choose options that do not clash.

Question 17

How can we press the objection further against Kant’s response?

Evaluation criticising Kant

Answer 17

We can argue that there are situations where one duty cannot be fulfilled due to an individual’s life circumstances, despite imperfect duties offering multiple means of fulfillment.

Question 18

Can you provide an example of a situation where one duty cannot be fulfilled despite imperfect duties?

Evaluation criticising Kant

Answer 18

For example, a soldier may be in a circumstance where they only have the means to fulfill one imperfect duty, such as defending their country, but cannot fulfill another duty, such as caring for a sick relative.

Question 19

Evaluation criticising Kant: Full paragraph

Answer 19

Kant tries to respond through imperfect duties which have multiple means of fulfilment.

However, we can press the objection further, that there are surely situations where one duty cannot be fulfilled. The soldier’s life circumstances might simply be such that they only have the means of fulfilling one imperfect duty.