Transcript Immanuel Kant by Aaron May, ppt

Immanuel Kant
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1724-1804
Early Life
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Konigsberg, Prussia
Baptized Emanuel
Humble beginnings
Pietist Household & Devout Education
Immanuel Kant
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
1724-1804
Early Life
•
•
•
•
Konigsberg, Prussia
Baptized Emanuel
Humble beginnings
Pietist Household & Devout Education
Scholarly Life
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Tutor, Lecturer, & Professor
Interested in Newtonian Principles
Published 30 works
Critique of Pure Reason
Critique of Practical Reason
Critique of Judgment
Socially Inept
Terms
• Deontology- The study of duty
• Maxim- A principle or rule of conduct
Kant & Ethics
• His most influential subject
• The motive, not outcome, is the sole creator or moral
worth in an action
• Categorical Imperative- “Act only according to that
maxim by which you can at the same time will that it
should become a universal law”
Reason & Freedom
• We are not wholly subject to causal law
• Reason cannot act without assumption of Freedom
Human Situation
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Animals, Humans, & Rational Beings
Actors, not Acted Upon
We cannot know which action is best
Ends-in-Themselves & Means-to-Ends
Will
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Outcome of our actions is beyond our control
Morality assessed by motivation
Good will cannot be used for evil
Goodness cannot arise from instinct
No outcome can be inherently good
Duty must drive our actions
Duty
• Hypothetical imperative
• Categorical Imperative for moral action
• “Act only according to that maxim by which you can the same
time will that it should become a universal law.”
• Universality test
• Nature cannot contradict itself
• Everyone thinks of themselves the way you do, therefore your
maxim must be applicable for all people
Kant in Debates
• Deontology- The action’s morality is
determined by its means
• Teleology- The action’s morality is
determined by its end