Week 8: Deontology/ Duty Ethics

Question 1

describe non-consequentialism

Answer 1

• it is not the consequences of an action that determine whether it is morally right or wrong
• consequence-based intuition ex: trolley problem flipping the switch to hit 1 person instead of 5

Question 2

describe deontology/duty ethics

Answer 2

• an action is morally right if done for the right reason
• duty-based intuition = not thinking about the consequences
• looks primarily at the motivation or reasons given for our action

Question 3

describe a good will (motives)

Answer 3

• Kant holds that a will is good when it acts for the sake of duty
  
  • we are motivated by the right thing
• the will must act in accord with reason: principle of volition
  
  • different types of things that can change our motivation
• an action has moral worth when it is done for the sake of duty
• rationalist moral psychology: actions are guided by reasons
  
  • when reasons are good, that’s what makes it moral

Question 4

describe hypothetical and categorical imperatives

Answer 4

• hypothetical:
  
  • particular, contingent, specific
  • only apply to some people and some situations
  • ex: duties of a student until you are not one
• categorical:
  
  • universal and necessary
  • applies to the category of all human beings
  • applies to everyone, always, everywhere
  • ex: duty not to murder

Question 5

describe the formulations of categorical imperatives

Answer 5

• the core of Kant’s duty ethics
• fundamental master duties
• different elements of a category of imperative
• master duties from which we derive other duties
• 3 formulations:
  
  • universality
  • humanity
  • autonomy

Question 6

describe the first formulation (universality) of the categorical imperative

Answer 6

• act only in ways that could be universalized in principle
  
  • the problem is that it’s very black and white
• we should do things that are consistent
• consistency: only do things that everyone could consistently do in principle
• ex:
  
  • don’t lie.. a lie is only effective if others tell the truth (can’t universalize it)
  • don’t steal (creates an inequality)
  • don’t cheat (can’t consistently cheat)

Question 7

describe the second formulation (humanity) of the categorical imperative

Answer 7

• always treat others as ends and never as mere means (intrinsic vs instrumental value)
  
  • should always treat others as intrinsically valuable
  • do not use them as purely instrumental.. ex: friendship where one friend is using the other friend
• emerges from universality
• always recognize the intrinsic values of others
• intrinsic = valuable in and of itself
  
  • ex: human beings always treat people as to having intrinsic values
• instrumental = valuable as a means to something else

Question 8

describe the third formulation (autonomy) of the categorical imperative

Answer 8

• respect the freedom of others to act of their own volition
• should respect them
• can’t violate the other 2 principles (all tied together)
• freedom to act on our own will

Question 9

describe the different types of duties

Answer 9

• perfect duty: admits of no exceptions and the conditions for its exercise are fully specified
  
  • ex: no coercion, no deception
  • have to do it no matter what
  • categorical imperative are all perfect
• imperfect duty: may be fulfilled in different ways and to different degrees depending on circumstances
  
  • ex: giving aid
  • duty to engage in self improvement
    
    • multiple ways to do so, and don’t have to do it all the time

Question 10

describe indigenous autonomy in canada

Answer 10

• history of setter colonialism in canada and loss of indigenous autonomy
• individual vs collective autonomy
• colonization/decolonization and delocalization/relocalization
  
  • residential schools (culture, language, security, lifestyle)
  • governance - Indian act
    
    • removes indigenous way of making decisions and replaces it with western making decisions
  • decolonization: how to revere colonization for the sake of autonomy
• TRC calls to action and UNDRIP
  
  • asserting collective autonomy
  • being able to reassert collective autonomy in different ways