Download Kantian Ethics

Kantian Ethics
Leadership & Ethics (NAV 4402)
06 FEB 07
SSgt Thomas Buettner
Objectives
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Understand Kantian Ethics
Be able to apply Kantian Ethics to different
scenarios/cases
Be able to distinguish the differences
between Utilitarianism and Kantianism
Kant’s Philosophy
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Autonomous Decisions
Deontology (Deon = Duty)
Actions in themselves are right or wrong
Ethical rules should never be broken
Human value
Duties – used to derive reason and moral
decision
TAKE HOME MESSAGE
Kantianism Categorical Imperative 1
“ACT ONLY ACCORDING TO THE MAXIM
THAT YOU COULD WILL TO BE A
UNIVERSAL LAW”
TAKE HOME MESSAGE
Kantianism Categorical Imperative 2
“YOU SHOULD USE AN INDIVIDUAL,
EITHER YOURSELF OR ANOTHER, AS AN
END AND NEVER AS A MEANS ONLY”
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Identify the maxim
CAT1
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Can the maxim be willed to be universalized ?
(Is there a contradiction in means or will?)
If “NO” then do it!
CAT 2
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Does the maxim involve treating individuals as ends only?
If “YES” then do it!
Terms
MAXIM (intention)
- A personal rule on which we make our decisions
Terms
DUTY
What a rational being should do.
Something to be done because it should be done not
to achieve praise or reward.
- It is all about MAXIMS
Categorical Imperative
Deontology
Intentions are important not consequences
1. Universalization
2. Duty
3. Using Persons as Ends in themselves not
Means
Strength’s of Kantian Ethics
-Duty: Commitment to stay the course
regardless of consequences
-Respect for Humanity: Treatment of people
as ends
-Formula for perfect human life?
Weakness of Kantian Ethics
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Too rigid?
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What is our duty?
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Conflicting Duty/Maxims?
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Intentions Vs Consequences
KANTIAN VS. UTILITARIAN
UTILITARIANISM
Greatest Happiness Principle
The rightness or wrongness of an act
depends upon the consequences. (the END
Justifies the MEANS)
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KANTIAN ETHICS
Supreme Principle of Morality
The rightness or wrongness of an act
depends upon universal laws of action (the
END never Justifies the MEANS)
It is all about DUTY
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Case Study
Illegal Immigrant Worker
Situation: Your uncle owns a construction
company and pays his immigrant employees
“under the table” for $2 less than minimum
wage.
External Info: Your uncle, in your opinion, is a
great guy that has many talents and has a
family of four; your dad works for him too.
Question: An IRS agent asks you to see the tax
records for the employees because you are the
accountant and you just started working for your
uncle last week. What do you do?
Scenario #1
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You are a nurse (thank you Ojard) and a
patient has come in with an acute case of
inflamed appendix. The doctor says to
the patient that he/she must have it
removed. The doctor leaves and the
patient tell you that he/she is leaving the
hospital because he/she does not want to
do it. What do you say to the patient?
Have you seen/heard this before?
“an individual who can be counted upon to
do what we know we must and ought to
do, even when there are no external forms
of incentive or accountability in place”