Transcript Kant and Deontology

Immanuel Kant
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b. 1724
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d. 1804
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Lived in Prussia (now
Germany) all of his
life
Founder of the moral
system known as
deontology
Deontology vs. Utilitarianism
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Utilitarianism – a moral view
that holds that the greatest
happiness principle is the
heart of morality. Defined by
two additional features:
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Deontology – a moral view
that holds that absolute
moral rules are the heart of
morality. Defined by two
additional features:
1) only consequences matter
for morals; intentions are
irrelevant.
1) only intentions matter for
morals; consequences are
irrelevant.
2) the purpose of morality is to
bring about the happiest
state of affairs.
2) the purpose of morality is
simply to “do what is right,”
not to make anyone happy.
Where Morals come from
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Not from human nature:
because people's natures are
different.
Not for happiness: because
reason is not a good way to
achieve happiness.
Morals come from the nature
of reason itself! We discover
what is rational by applying
the principle of noncontradiction.
But how does this work?
An Ethic of Rationality
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Principle of non-contradiction – in logic the claim that
something cannot be both true and false (both “A” and “not
A”) at the same time, in the same respect.
For example: I cannot be both here and there, both alive
and dead, both telling the truth and telling a lie (at the
same time in the same respect).
To be rational is to live according to the Principle of noncontradiction.
Key Terms:
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Maxim – a rule or principle that we choose to
follow. Usually these are subjective: for
example, if I want to lose 15 pounds, I follow the
Maxim – “don't over eat” and/or “Jog 30 minutes
a day.”
Law – a law is a Maxim (rule or principle) that is
NOT subjective, but rather applies to all people,
in all places, at all times, in all possible
circumstances.
A Maxim becomes a Law when it can or cannot
be universalized
Kant's examples of The
Universalization Test
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We must ask of any Maxim that we would adopt
as a moral law, “Can I will that everyone adopt
this Maxim as a moral law for them”?
If I cannot will this Universalization, then I
cannot do the action; I have a moral duty not to
do it. If I can universalize the action, then I may
do it; in fact, I'm morally obligated to do it.
Stealing
Promise-Breaking
Don't ever lie!
Imperatives
Hypothetical
Vs
Categorical
Only intentions matter!
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Kant argues that the only thing that can make
an act moral is the intention behind it. For an
act to be moral IT MUST BE MOTIVED BY
DUTY ALONE!!
In other words, Kant thinks that we must do
what is right only because it is right and not for
any other reason.
Kant tries to prove this by several examples
The Prudent Merchant
The Friend of Humanity
The Cold Man
Respecting Persons
Person – df. 'a rational being'
To be a rational being one must posses selfawareness, be able to make free choices, and
understand the moral law
Kant's notion of Freedom
Reason
creates the
moral law
which I MUST
follow =
autonomy
Outside
forces
compel me =
Heteronomy
Testing Kant
Selling organs