Transcript Lesson 9 Kant - SUNY Maritime College

Today’s Class:
Kant & Moral Duty
EMP (21 pages)
•
Kantian Ethics and the Basis of Duty (Lucas), pp. 165-169;
from Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals (Kant), pp. 171181; A Simplified Account of Kantian Ethics (O’Neill), pp. 183187.
CSME (7 pages)
•
Aviano EA-6B Gondola Mishap (Slyman), pp. 115 -121, 233 234.
Objectives
from reading:
“The German
Enlightenment
philosopher,
Immanuel Kant, is regarded as among the
greatest and most influential of Western
philosophers, and undeniably as one of the
most difficult to read and understand.”
Comprehend moral basis & standard of Kantian or duty-based ethics:
• What are the strengths & weaknesses of Kantian ethics as a moral
standard?
• Kantian concept of good will, reason, intent, & duty
• Know and apply the 3 versions of the Categorical Imperative.
• How does Kantian moral theory differ from utilitarianism regarding
intent & consequences?
• How would you compare Kant’s concept of duty to the concept or
- Kantian Ethics and the Basics of Duty – page 143
military duty?
Immanuel Kant
(1724-1804)
Extreme Measures
…and your rebuttal?
Do what is “correct…”
Do what is “right…”
Do what is “brave…”
Utilitarianism (review)
• The Principle of Utility (GHP) is a
good example of most of these
provisions…
– Gives clear answers, helps
resolve many problems, explains
and justifies our intuitions
– But the Extreme Measures story,
or “shoot the prisoners” dilemma,
illustrate issues (like justice,
fairness, and rights) which are not
sufficiently addressed
Kant’s direct swipes…
• At Utilitarianism
– “A good will is not good because of what it effects or
accomplishes…it is good in the willing alone…”
• At Aristotelian Virtues
– “Intelligence, courage, resolution, determination…are good in
many respects, but they can be bad or hurtful when the will is not
good…” (see Adolph Hitler)
• At Ego-centric Ethics
– “Man feels in himself a powerful counterweight to all the
commands of duty presented to him…the counterweight of his
desires….which pervert the dignity of the strict natural laws of
duty…”
Kant’s Contrasting Strategy
• Morality seems to consist in various law-like principles,
obligations, that limit our freedom
– “I ought…” (duty) versus I want…” (desire)
• The “Morally Good Will” (person of good character, integrity)
– recognizes the moral law as his own self-imposed
limitations on individual freedom for the sake of all
• Human beings have moral dignity because of this power
of reason to regulate their behavior
– unlike mere animals, we don’t just “have desires” or
impulses and act on them, we also have AUTONOMY (the
capacity for self-governance)
• Morality is an expression of that autonomy, it is “selfgovernance”
Kant: the “Supreme Principle”
of Morality
If we ask for the essential characteristic defining moral
goodness or worth, we find:
– 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 motive);
and
– A person is morally good (“good will”) if
•
he or she can be counted on to do his/her duty,
motivated solely by a respect or reverence for the moral
law
(rather than consideration of some other, variable
principle).
Kant’s Morality = Duty
vs
Mill’s Morality = Happiness
What is “Duty?”
– Main Entry:
• 1du·ty
– Pronunciation:
• \ˈdü-tē also ˈdyü-\
– Function:
• noun
– Inflected Form(s):
• plural duties
– Etymology:
• Middle English duete, from Anglo-French deueté, dueté, from deu due
– Date:
• 13th century
– 1: conduct due to parents and superiors : respect2 a: obligatory tasks,
conduct, service, or functions that arise from one's position (as in life or in a
group) b (1): assigned service or business (2): active military service (3): a
period of being on duty3 a: a moral or legal obligation b: the force of
moral obligation4: tax ; especially : a tax on imports5 a: work
Terms to Know
• Categorical Imperative (CI)
– “Unconditional Obligation”
– “No alibi, must comply”
• Maxim
– Fundamental principle you act upon
– Rule of conduct
• Deontological Ethics
– Based on Moral Obligation
Observations about Categorical
Imperatives (CIs)
 CI’s derive their authority from within
– from the rational impulse to obey the dictates of Reason itself
(as an expression of my autonomy)
 CI’s command absolutely, unconditionally, “no ifs, ands or buts”
(no strings attached)
 CI’s are universal, unconditional, NOT subject to variation or change
 Duty and the institution of morality are like this
(Must comply- no alibi)
 “Do this, whether you want to or not, whether you can be made to or
not, whether anyone will notice, reward, praise, or blame you (or
not).”
Categorical Imperative (CI1):
Formula of Universal Law
• CI1 – Formula of Universal Law:
“Act only on that maxim through which you can at
the same time will that it should become a universal
law”
Translation:
1. Can I universalize my act without contradiction?
Kant’s 4 illustrations:
• Do not harm the self (suicide)
• Do not harm or deceive others (lying)
• Do what is good for the self (develop your talents)
• Do what is good for others (beneficence)
Categorical Imperative (CI2)
Formula of the End in Itself
•CI2 – Formula of the End in Itself
“Act in such a way that you always treat humanity,
whether in your own person or in the person of any
other, never simply as a means, but always at the
same time as an end.”
Consider Kant’s 4 illustrations,
from the perspective of the “agent”
(i.e., the person undertaking the action)
rather than action:
–
–
–
–
Do not harm the self (suicide)
Do not harm or deceive others (lying)
Do what is good for the self (develop your talents)
Do what is good for others (beneficence)
AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq – A member of the 5th Civil Affairs
Group, 2nd Marine Division gives a soccer ball to an Iraqi child
The “Categorical Imperative Procedure”
(CI3)
•
CI3 - “The Kingdom of Ends” – Reason is both the source of moral law
(legislator) and subject of the law (citizen).
•
Accordingly: “Act always as if you were, through your maxims, a
lawmaking member of the moral community, bound to obey the laws you
impose upon yourself and others”
Translation:
Can this act become a binding moral law for all of us (…including
you)?
Categorical Imperatives
CI#1
Form a
Maxim
Could it
become
Universal
Law?
No
CI#3
CI#2
Does it
treat
people
as an End
not merely
as a Means?
No
Could the
maxim be
willed by you
and agreed
upon by
everyone to
as moral law
for the
community?
No
Fails the Categorical Imperative:
IT IS NOT MORALLY RIGHT!
P
A
S
S
E
S
False Promise: Using Test One
Maxim: I may make a false promise in
order to reap financial gain.
Generalized: Anyone may make a false
promise to get something they want.
Bad Samaritan:
Using Tests One and Two
Maxim: I may refuse to help another
person in distress who cannot pay
me, even though I could do so at
little cost to myself.
Generalized: Anyone may refuse to
help another person in distress who
cannot pay her even though it
would cost her little to help.
Can I, or Kant I?
Some potential maxims:
• I will always tell the truth.
• I will always throw my paper wrappers out my car
window.
• I will cure cancer forever by experimenting with
one homeless person’s life.
• I will shoot the POW to get the information to
possibly save my troops.
• I will provide for my family.
• I will steal food for my family if they are starving.
Weighing “Intent” & “Consequence:”
A Legal Example
• First Degree Murder
– Intent and
consequence
• Attempted Murder
– Intent, no consequence
• Negligent Homicide
– Consequence, no
intent
Would you do it?
LIE?
If Grandma
asked if you
liked her
terrible
cookies?
Protect a
roommate’s
honor
offense?
KEEP
IF
FOUND
Dollar
bill?
Navy
gym
shorts?
CD
Player
($100)
STEAL?
Govt.
ballpoint
pen?
Roommate’s
Socks?
Pirate
song off
internet?
CHEAT?
Copy
someone’s
homework?
Protect a
classmate
from PRB?
Copy
someone’s
lab report?
CONSEQUENCES
LOW
To the
Admiral?
$1000 cash?
Shirt at mall?
On term
paper?
THE GRAY AREA
Abandoned
car?
Kidnap
person?
On final
exam?
CONSEQUENCES
HIGH
What would Kant do?
Universal Principle
• Suppose…
– IED Victim
•
•
•
•
Horrific Burns
Brain damage
Coma
Life support
– $1,000,000 life
insurance policy
Observations about Categorical
Imperatives (CIs)
 CI’s derive their authority from within
– from the rational impulse to obey the dictates of Reason itself
(as an expression of my autonomy)
 CI’s command absolutely, unconditionally, “no ifs, ands or buts”
(no strings attached)
 CI’s are universal, unconditional, NOT subject to variation or change
 Duty and the institution of morality are like this
(Must comply- no alibi)
 “Do this, whether you want to or not, whether you can be made to or
not, whether anyone will notice, reward, praise, or blame you (or
not).”
See any issues here?
Goods and Others…
Kantian Ethics
Strengths
• Realm of duty, free from utility (Woo-hoo! no math involved!)
• Respect for persons
• Golden rule – do unto others, expressed in rational terms
• Reason based
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
• Supererogation
Aviano EA-6B
Gondola Mishap
“Four Marines were flying in an
EA-6B Prowler when it severed
a cable supporting a ski
gondola near Cavalese, Italy, on
February 3,1998.
The gondola operator and 19
skiers were killed. The cables
were from 364 to 370 feet (109 to
111 meters) off the ground in a
valley.” (CNN.com)
Crash site near Cavalese, Italy
The Case
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Aircrew
Flight
Immediate Aftermath
Aviano 4-8 Feb
Cherry Point 4-8 Feb
The Tape
The Sequel
Lead in to Virtue Ethics
•
How does Kant account for
heroism?
–
•
Is it our duty to go “beyond the call of
duty?”
Wouldn’t celibacy be immoral
–
Couldn’t will it to be a universal law
(…not for long, anyway)
•
Which person is more moral?
a) A pirate who returns a wallet
b) A priest who returns a wallet
A Few Good Men
One of those cases where law and morality coincide…
Recap CI-procedure
CI1 = formula of “universal law”
Make it law… without any loopholes
CI2 = “respect for persons principle”
People as ends not means
CI3 = “Kingdom of Ends”
You are bound to obey the laws you make… for the
Good of the Community
Kant portrays the first two as derivations from the third,
which attempts to portray the moral situation of a free,
rational individual within a democratic society.
The “essence of morality” is the motive (good will)
behind the act to produce a “…Systematic union of
rational beings under common objective law.”