Kantian ethics
- Created by: Stevie117
- Created on: 16-11-15 18:31
Kantian ethics |
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EvaluationOverall, I think Kantian ethics has more weaknesses than it does strengths. Though treating humans as ends is a positive idea and encourages the abolision of slavery, in some circumstances humans have to be treated as means to an end for the majority to benefit. For example in embryo research (though it is debatable whether Kant would deem that wrong as he never clarified what a 'human' is) Some may argue that this idea is strong because it is the basis for the united declaration of human rights, however others claim that these general terms only tell us what to do for the majority and do not tell us what do do in individual cases. Moreover, despite attempting to make his theory accessible to everyone by making it based on reason, it can be aruged that not everyone is capable of making rational moral decisions. Futhermore Kant makes his theory less accessible as depends upon the idea of God to explain rationality in the ordered world so atheists cannot accept his theory. This 'accessability' also relies upon the idea that people generally have the same ideas about morality however people are different and don't always necessarily have the same ideas and sense of 'good will'. Overall, this means Kant's theory isn't universal and can't work for everyone. Another reason Kant's theory is flawed is because it partly goes against human nature; it is human nature to consider the consequences before acting and some philosophers argue that it is natural to act out of emotion viewed as cold when you don't. Every action we take invloves love and compassion because we are human beings. Futhermore people rarely act out of duty without thinking about what they will get in return. Duty is part of human experience however if our decision-making is affected by thinking about what we'll get as a result of doing our duty, then the decision will not be moral. Finally, Kant's theory contradicts itself in that he is in favour of freedom yet says you have to obey the principles of the categorical imperative: you are free as long as you obey these laws? For these reasons I think that Kant's theory, though a positive idea and a valid basis for un-biased decisions, isn't practical to be used by the human race. |
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