Kantian Ethics

Kantian Ethics

1. key words

   • absolutist
   • universal
   • deontological
   • sense of duty
   • good will
   • summum bonum
     • the moral law within

2. categorical imperative

   • universalisation
     • is it logically contradictory?
       • e.g murder
         • if everyone was compelled to murder, eventually there would be no one left to murder
     • is it a contradiction of the will?
       • e.g murder
         • it is irrational to want to be murdered
   • everyone as ends
     • you should treat people as ends in themselves
       • not simply a means to an end
         • e.g stealing
       • e.g trading with someone to get what you want
   • the kingdom of ends
     • act as if everyone treats each other as ends
     • this means you have no reason to treat someone badly
       • even if they treat you badly first

3. emotion

   • not valid in moral decision making
     • no free will over emotions
     • can't be universalised
       • could be acting the same way for different emotional reasons