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Kantian Ethics
- Objective right and wrong
based on reason
- We should do the right thing
simply because it is right
- We must reject
any theory we
cannot universalise
(apply to everyone)
- Consequences do
not matter. At all.
- Comes from his book 'Critique of practical reason.'
- We should do the right thing
simply because it is right
- Kant and reason
- Kant believed the world we
experience around us is 'phenomenal'
- not the world as it really is
- If our senses were different, we
would experience the world differently
- What is important is the noumenal world, which is the
world as it really is. We experience this through reason.
- What is important is the noumenal world, which is the
world as it really is. We experience this through reason.
- If our senses were different, we
would experience the world differently
- Kant believed the world we
experience around us is 'phenomenal'
- not the world as it really is
- Kant's moral theory
- Desires and feelings are not
anything to do with morality
(that is Hume's theory)
- Morality comes from autonomy, good will, and duty.
- Autonomy
- Freedom to choose; no action can be moral
for Kant unless it is freely chosen.
- The opposite is heteronomy - something is right because it
satisfies an emotion, goal or desire.
- The opposite is heteronomy - something is right because it
satisfies an emotion, goal or desire.
- Freedom to choose; no action can be moral
for Kant unless it is freely chosen.
- Good will
- Kant believed only good will
was intrinsically good
- The intention for our action must be good
- The intention for our action must be good
- Kant believed only good will
was intrinsically good
- Duty
- Duty must be
done for its own
sake
- You should not help someone because it
makes you feel good to have helped
someone, for instance
- You should not help someone because it
makes you feel good to have helped
someone, for instance
- Duty must be
done for its own
sake
- Autonomy
- Morality comes from autonomy, good will, and duty.
- Desires and feelings are not
anything to do with morality
(that is Hume's theory)
- Categorical imperative
- A hypothetical imperative is something you
should do to achieve a goal; for example, if I
want to pass my AS levels, I should revise.
- A categorical imperative is something you
simply MUST do. They apply to everyone.
- How do you tell if something is a categorical imperative?
- Three maxims
- Universalising rules
- Something cannot be a moral law unless you'd
be happy for everyone else to do the same -
otherwise this is a contradiction because not
everyone would follow the same moral law
- Eg. If you universalise,
'break promises when it
suits you,' promises will
have no meaning and the
entire rule is pointless.
- Eg. If you universalise,
'break promises when it
suits you,' promises will
have no meaning and the
entire rule is pointless.
- Something cannot be a moral law unless you'd
be happy for everyone else to do the same -
otherwise this is a contradiction because not
everyone would follow the same moral law
- Never treat
people as a
means to an end
- People must be the end, never the means. If not, we deny
them the right to be rational and to make their own judgements.
- People must be the end, never the means. If not, we deny
them the right to be rational and to make their own judgements.
- Act as if in the Kingdom of Ends
- Act as if everyone is a free, autonomous moral agent
- Act as if everyone is a free, autonomous moral agent
- Universalising rules
- Three maxims
- How do you tell if something is a categorical imperative?
- A categorical imperative is something you
simply MUST do. They apply to everyone.
- A hypothetical imperative is something you
should do to achieve a goal; for example, if I
want to pass my AS levels, I should revise.
- Postulates
- We must postulate
(suggest or assume
the existence of)
three things for Kant's
theory to work.
- God
- In the next world, there will be no conflict between
duty and happiness; God ensures goodness is
rewarded. See moral argument mindmap.
- In the next world, there will be no conflict between
duty and happiness; God ensures goodness is
rewarded. See moral argument mindmap.
- Freedom
- Immortality
- The summum bonum
- This isn't a postulate, but something we must all try to
achieve - it is the highest good which we pursue through
moral acts
- We need God and immortaliity to
ensure it, because it can't be
achieved in this life
- We need God and immortaliity to
ensure it, because it can't be
achieved in this life
- This isn't a postulate, but something we must all try to
achieve - it is the highest good which we pursue through
moral acts
- God
- We must postulate
(suggest or assume
the existence of)
three things for Kant's
theory to work.
- For
- Gives a reason for moral action
- Gives clear guildelines
- Based on reason
- Respects human life
- Everyone is treated fairly
and equally
- We don't have to
predict
consequences
- We don't assume
what's good for us is
good for everyone
- Gives a reason for moral action
- Against
- Tells you
only what
types of
actions are
good, not what
to do in
particular
circumstances
- Ignores consequences
- Emotionally detached
- Atheists may not accept it
- Kantian ethicists could be taken advantage of
- Tells you
only what
types of
actions are
good, not what
to do in
particular
circumstances
- WD Ross's developments
- Seven prima facie duties - exceptions to Kant's duties
- Fidelity
- Reparation for harm done
- Gratitude
- Justice
- Beneficence
- Self-imrovement
- Non-maleficence
- Can be hard
to know if
these are right
or which are
most important
- Fidelity
- Seven prima facie duties - exceptions to Kant's duties
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