Immanuel Kant: Duty

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What was the aim of Kant's approach?
To devise a principle which could distinguish between right and wrong
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What is Deontological Ethics?
Duty-based: concerned with actions, not consequences
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What is a priori knowledge?
Things we know without experience
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What is a posteriori?
Things we can know only through experience
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What is the only thing that is good to Kant? What did this mean for morality?
Good Will: it alone is good in whatever context it may be found. Only actions done out of 'good will' are good actions.
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How do we know if an action is out of 'good will'?
If it satisfies the test of the Categorical Imperative
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What is a Hypothetical Imperative?
Commands that do not apply to everyone; you only need to obey them to achieve a certain goal
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Give an example of a Hypothetical Imperative
"If you want to do well in your exams, you should study hard"
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What is a Categorical Imperative?
Moral commands that do not begin with an 'if'- do not depend on anything; disregards consequence
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What is a categorical imperative used to judge?
As a way of judging whether an action is in accordance with reason.
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What are the 3 formulations of Categorical Imperative?
1) Universal Law
2) Treat humans as ends in themselves
3) Universal Kingdom of Ends
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Explain the First formulation
Always perform actions that may be made rules for everyone.
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What specific term does he call the first formulation?
Concept of universalizability
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Explain the Second formulation
Always treat people as ends in themselves, not as means to an end- we should not exploit others
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Explain the Third formulation
Pretend you live as a member of (and as a leader of) the Kingdom of Ends where all people live as if these rules are totally valid
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Give some advantages of Kantian Ethics
Easy to understand; use of clear criteria; respect for all humanity
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Explain the idea of duty
Do the right thing for the right reason, because it is the right thing to do.
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How does duty relate to Kant?
Kant thought the only good reason for doing the right thing was because of a sense of duty. If we do something mainly out of duty, we acted rightly.
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Give some disadvantages of Kantian Ethics
Does not look at consequences- allows morally questionable choices; duty above all is cold; not everyone is capable of rational decision making
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What are the 3 Postulates of Practical Reason?
The 3 rationalised assumptions that need to be made for his theory to work
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What are the 3 postulates?
1) We are free beings- capable of knowing what our duty is
2) We must be immortal if there is a summum bonum
3) God exists to judge us in the afterlife
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What is the Summum Bonum?
The highest good
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How does this link to Kantian Ehtics?
Reward for acting out of duty during life
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is Deontological Ethics?

Back

Duty-based: concerned with actions, not consequences

Card 3

Front

What is a priori knowledge?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is a posteriori?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is the only thing that is good to Kant? What did this mean for morality?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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