Explain Kant's theory of duty (30 marks)
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- Created on: 11-05-14 10:06
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- Explain Kant's theory of duty (30 marks)
- 2. The Categorical Imperative.
- As rational human beings we have certain duties which are categorical (absolute and unconditional)
- Morality is a system of categorical imperatives - commands to act in certain ways
- Contrasted categorical duties with hypothetical ones.
- What you ought or ought not do to achieve or avoid a certain goal.
- Contrasted categorical duties with hypothetical ones.
- Morality is a system of categorical imperatives - commands to act in certain ways
- Three Rules of Cat. Imp..
- 1) Universalisability
- For an action to be moral the underlying maxim had to be universalisable.
- Has to be a maxim that can hold for any person at any time under similar circumstances.
- For an action to be moral the underlying maxim had to be universalisable.
- 2) Formula of End in Itself
- The underlying maxim must not use humans as a means to an end but must respect all people as rational agents and ends in themselves.
- Humans must be treated with respect because they are rational agents.
- The underlying maxim must not use humans as a means to an end but must respect all people as rational agents and ends in themselves.
- 3) Formula of Kingdom of Ends.
- Rational humans must act as if everyone is following the same version of ethics
- Must act as if you, and everyone else, were treating each other as ends in themselves.
- Rational humans must act as if everyone is following the same version of ethics
- 1) Universalisability
- Three Posulates of Practical Reason.
- God
- Freedom
- Immortality
- Virtue and happiness do not coincide in this life, but there must be a point at which they do - must be an afterlife.
- Therefore God must exist in order to help people reach this place.
- You will reach this place by following the CI and using autonomy.
- Freedom
- God
- The SUMMUM BONUM
- Virtue and happiness do not coincide in this life, but there must be a point at which they do - must be an afterlife.
- Therefore God must exist in order to help people reach this place.
- You will reach this place by following the CI and using autonomy.
- The SUMMUM BONUM
- You will reach this place by following the CI and using autonomy.
- Therefore God must exist in order to help people reach this place.
- Virtue and happiness do not coincide in this life, but there must be a point at which they do - must be an afterlife.
- You will reach this place by following the CI and using autonomy.
- Therefore God must exist in order to help people reach this place.
- Virtue and happiness do not coincide in this life, but there must be a point at which they do - must be an afterlife.
- As rational human beings we have certain duties which are categorical (absolute and unconditional)
- 1. Introduction
- Deontological Theory
- Concerned with actions not consequences.
- The only acceptable motive for an action is performing out of a sense of duty.
- Kant argued that we should focus on the motives for actions rather than on consequences because everyone can be moral.
- We can only be held morally responsible for something which we have control
- "OUGHT IMPLIES CAN"
- We can only be held morally responsible for something which we have control
- Kant argued that we should focus on the motives for actions rather than on consequences because everyone can be moral.
- An action is either right or wrong regardless of the consequences.
- The only acceptable motive for an action is performing out of a sense of duty.
- Contrasted with a teleological approach
- Concerned with consequences not actions.
- Concerned with actions not consequences.
- The Good Will
- No outcome was inherently good.
- Kant used the term 'good' to describe the 'good will'
- The resolve to act purely in accordance with ones duty, using reason to work out what one's duty is.
- Kant used the term 'good' to describe the 'good will'
- Duty is what makes the 'good will' good. It is the motive for acting in a certain way which shows moral quality - rational human beings experience a 'pull' of duty through their reason.
- No outcome was inherently good.
- Autonomy
- We should act autonomously using our reason, disregarding outer influences, feelings or inclination.
- A Priori Synthetic
- Find out how to act morally (and therefore our duty) prior to experience.
- Applying reason to situations - may end in the sum mum bonus.
- Find out how to act morally (and therefore our duty) prior to experience.
- Deontological Theory
- 3. Applying Kant's Ethical Theory.
- ABORTION
- The maxim 'You should have an abortion' becomes a self-contradictory universal maxim 'Everyone should have an abortion'
- It couldn't work because the human race would eventually die out, and so there would be no one to have abortions.
- Finding a different universal maxim that is not self-contractory
- 'People who have been ***** should have abortions'
- Still a contradiction of the will
- Rational agents have been born through **** - you can't will a law that would prevent your own existence.
- The foetus will eventually become a rational being and so you should not use it as a means to an end.
- Still a contradiction of the will
- 'People who have been ***** should have abortions'
- The maxim 'You should have an abortion' becomes a self-contradictory universal maxim 'Everyone should have an abortion'
- ABORTION
- 4. Working towards the Kingdom of Ends
- People have intrinsic value as they are rational and can make their own moral decisions.
- 2. The Categorical Imperative.
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