Transcript Lesson 5 Kantian Ethics

Kantian Duty Ethics
Lesson 5
Kantian Duty Ethics
• Immanuel Kant
– 18th century German
Philosopher
Believed reason could be
used to work out a
consistent and
nonoverridable set of moral
principles. Such moral rules
would be universal.
Kantian Duty Ethics
• Kant’s ‘Duty’ ethics are a
moral obligation which
must come from within
each individual.
• Where do our military
duties come from?
“The obligation to do our duty is
unconditional. That is, we must do it for the
sake of duty, because it is the right thing to
do, not because it will profit us
psychologically, or economically, not
because if we don’t do it and get caught
we’ll be punished. The categorical
imperative was Kant’s name for this
inbred, self-imposed restraint, for the
command of conscience within that tells us
that the only true moral act is done from a
pure sense of duty.”
Admiral James Stockdale
Kantian Duty Ethics
“Morality is not based on
the fact that it has
instrumental value, that
it often secures nonmoral
goods such as happiness.
Rather, morality is
valuable in its own
right.”
Louis Pojman on Kant
Kantian Duty Ethics
“It is not our desires that
ground morality but our
rational will. Reason is
sufficient for establishing
the moral law as
something transcendent
and universally binding
on all rational
creatures.”
Louis Pojman of Kant
Kantian Duty Ethics
• Kant’s motivation:
– wants “supreme principle of morality”
with a firm foundation in reason...
– wants principle with intuitive view
about morality - Moral rules that are:
• universally applicable
• exert a special force on us
• concerned with more than just outcomes
Kantian Duty Ethics
What is good?
Only the ‘Good Will.’
Talents of mind, qualities of
temperament, personal
attributes, while desirable
and beneficial can be
misused without the Good
Will.
Kantian Duty Ethics
• Kant’s Imperative or Command
– Categorical Imperative (CI)
• Single abstract principle
• Different formulations - basic idea
the same
• Intuitive, immediate, absolute
injunctions that all rational agents
understand by virtue of their
rationality.
Kantian Definitions
What is Right?
• “GOOD WILL”: THE INTENTION/CHOICE THAT
IMPELS A PERSON TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, BECAUSE
IT IS RIGHT. SELF IMPOSED, THROUGH REASON.
•
RIGHT ACTIONS: ARE THOSE ACTIONS DONE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH “DUTY”
•
DUTY: ACTION MANDATED BY THE MORAL LAW.
DOING THE THINGS YOU ARE PERMITTED BY THE
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE
•
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE: A MORAL “TEST” FOR
RIGHTNESS OF AN ACT
• AN ACTION HAS “MORAL WORTH” IF IT CONFORMS
TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF DUTY, AND IS DONE FOR
THE SAKE OF DUTY, AND NOT FOR SOME OTHER
INTENTION
Source: Captain Rubel USNA
Kant’s Categorical Imperative
3 - Formulations
1. “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at
the same time will that it would become a universal
law.”
2. Act “as though the maxim of your action were by your
will to become a universal law of nature” such as the
laws of physics.
3. ‘Act so that you treat humanity, whether in you’re
your own person or that of another, always as an end
and never as a means only.’
- ‘Maxim’ refers to general rule with which agent
intends to act.
- ‘Law’ refers to an objective principle, a
‘maxim’ which passes the test of
universalizability.
• In Kantian Terms, there is a difference between an action
being Blameworthy, Acceptable and Praiseworthy.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
BLAMEWORTHY
ACCEPTABLE
PRAISEWORTHY
0
+
|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
ACT
ACT RIGHTLY
ACT RIGHTLY
WRONGLY
BUT NOT FROM
AND FROM RIGHT
RIGHT MOTIVE
MOTIVE (GOOD WILL)
Dr Larry Lengbeyer +
Captain Rubel USNA
Kantian Duty Ethics
• Categorical Imperative (CI)
• If you wouldn’t want everyone to act
on the rule, then that action is
morally wrong.
• Act “as though the maxim of your
action were by your will to become a
universal law of nature” such as the
laws of physics.
• Consequences?
Kantian Duty Ethics
• Results of Kant’s Categorical Imperative
–one should treat people with respect
–one should never lie
–one should never commit suicide
–one should never break one’s
promises
–etc.
Kantian Duty Ethics
• “Right actions are those actions done in
accordance with duty”
• What is the motive of duty? Reverence
(respect) for the moral law.
• Duty for the sake of duty?
Kantian Ethics - Strengths
• Realm of duty free from utility
• Respect for persons
• Golden rule – do unto others,
expressed in rational terms
Source: Capt. Rubel USNA
Kantian Ethics - Weaknesses
• Hyper-rationality and lack of emotion
• The irrelevance of inclination
• Overly formal and universal, i.e.,
most of our duties are in social roles
• Inflexibility
Source: Capt. Rubel USNA
Kantian Duty Ethics
Consider: “But men and officers
must obey…..”
Kantian Ethics?
Questions?
Next:
Truth - Telling
Kantian Duty Ethics
• Two approaches to moral reasoning:
Teleological: related to the study of evidences
of design in nature; relating to the use of
design or purpose as an explanation of
natural phenomena. Consequences can
make an act right - Utilitarianism
Deontological: related to the theory or study
of moral obligation. Certain features of act
or rule make it right or wrong. Ends do not
justify means
Kantian Duty Ethics
• Suppose we evaluate a person as morally
good for performing a good act - say,
saving a drowning child - but did not
know that the person did what they did
out of self-interest - say, to get publicity or
money.
• Is this likely to change our evaluation of
the act or of the person?
• Can you think of contrasting cases, one
where this knowledge would make a
difference and one where it would not?
Kantian Duty Ethics
• Kantian ethics is often said to be
grounded in a principle of respect for
persons. Why, according to Kant,
should we respect other persons?
Kantian Duty Ethics
• What is the relationship between the Kantian
notions of autonomy, good will, duty, and selflegislation?
• Kant claims respects is due to all persons in
virtue of their rational capacities. Why is this?
• What does respect have to do with a person’s
capacity to make rational choices?
Kantian Duty Ethics
• I am a self-sacrificing woman. I please my
spouse, support his cause, deny myself some
of my needs in order to promote his career. I
have deferred my career for his, and I am
regularly the one who makes the sacrifices
for the family.
• Does this policy pass Kant’s CI test? How or
how not?
Kantian Duty Ethics
• How does Kant’s categorical
imperative differ from the Golden Rule
(“Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you”)?