Kantian ethics

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Kantian Ethics
- Good will
  - All good moral acts must be grounded in good will
- Deontological
  - Intentions are more important than consequences
  - End doesn't justify the means
- A moral person acts out of duty and not out of personal preference
- A priori
- Categorical Imperatives
  - Treat people as ends not means
  - Universal law (universalisation)
  - Live in a kingdom of ends
- Criticisms
  - Descartes: "I think, therefore I am"
  - Leibniz: "we can have knowledge untouched by the point of view of the observer"
  - Hume: "There is no such thing as objective knowledge, at all"
  - Forbids acts most people think are wrong (theft)
  - Protects dignity and promotes equality
  - Universalisability is difficult as not everyone has the same moral views
  - Conflicting duties - lie or save a life?
  - Doesn't consider consequences
  - Inflexible as it is absolute
Categorical Imperatives
- Treat people as ends not means
- Universal law (universalisation)
- Live in a kingdom of ends

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