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Kant and Kantian Ethics:
Is it possible for “reason” to supply
the absolute principles of morality?
Can reason actually
discover eternal, absolute
ethical principles,
principles of universal
truth that can be known
with rational certainty just
reason can guide us to
universal truths of
mathematics and
geometry?
Immanuel Kant
(1724-1804)
Kantianism is a deontological formalistic
moral theory which claims that the right
action in any given situation is determined
by the Categorical Imperative.
– What is a “deontological” moral theory?
– What does “formalistic” mean?
– What is the “Categorical Imperative”?
What does “Formalistic” mean?
Kant's ethics is called formalistic (or formal) because it
focuses on the form or structure of a moral judgment.
– All moral directives have the prescriptive form "you
ought to do X"); they are imperatives.
– The fundamental aim of Kant's ethical theory is to
determine how a command can be a moral command
with a particularly necessary and obligating character.
What is the Categorical Imperative?
First, he is arguing that when one acts voluntarily one
always acts on a formulizable maxim or rule;
One is choosing and judging the moral point of view if
and only if one is or would be willing to universalize
one’s maxim, that is, if he is or would be willing to see
his rule acted on by everyone who is in a situation of a
similar kind, even if he himself turns out to be on the
receiving end on occasion; and third, that an action is
morally if right and/or obligatory if and only if one can
consistnetly will that the maxim or rule involved
First Formula: Universal Law:
1. The Formula of Universal Law/Formula of
Universal Law of Nature:
– "Act only according to that maxim whereby you
can at the same time will that it should become a
universal law."
– "Act as if the maxim of your action were to
become through your will a universal law of
nature." [p. 30]
Second Formula: Formula of
Humanity as An End in Itself:
2. Formula of Humanity [a.k.a. Formula of Humanity
as an End in Itself, Formula of the End in Itself]:
– "Act in such a way that you treat humanity,
whether in your own person or in the person of
another, always at the same time as an end and
never simply as a means." [p. 36]
3rd Formula: Kingdom of Ends
3. Formula of Autonomy / Formula of the Kingdom
of Ends [a.k.a. Formula of the Autonomy of the Will
as Universal Legislator]:
– "[Act] from the maxim of such a will as could at the same
time have as its object only itself regarded as legislating
universal law." / "Act in accordance with the maxims of a
member legislating universal laws for a merely possible
kingdom of ends." [pp. 39, 43]
What is a deontological moral theory?
– A deontological theory claims that the right action is determined
by what the agent's duty is. It is a duty-centered theory.
– The first task of ethics is to determine what we are obligated to
do.
– It further claims that one should always do what it is one's duty to
do.
– By doing our duty, we do what is valuable.
– Deontological ethics denies Consequentialism (outcome based
models of ethics like “Egoism or “Utilitarianism”): the morally
right action is determined by its consequences.
Some Kantian Problems with Consequentialism:
1. No act is right or wrong in itself (no matter how
“horrific” or “evil”);
2. We are not morally responsible, autonomous, or
free if we naturally seek to produce good
consequences. If that is the case, then we are not
morally responsible.
Kantian Problems with Consequentialism:
3. Because of various contextual reasons (e.g., education;
background; psychology; etc), there is vast disagreement
on what “counts” as good consequences.
4. How can we be held responsible for consequences that are
often out of our control? We can’t even control the longrange consequences…we don’t even know what they may
become? Moreover, where do we draw the line of
responsibility?