Transcript Lecture 25: Kantian moral theory

LECTURE 25: KANTIAN MORAL
THEORY
Ethics
Teleological
The moral value of an action
is entirely based on its
results or consequences
Deontological
Emphasises duty or the
inherent moral value of an
action, not the consequences.
All ethical theories fall under one or both of these categories
TWO TYPES OF ETHICAL THEORY
Kant maintains the following:
o The morality of an action is not conditional on its consequences
o Morality is a matter of ought or obligation
o How you do something is more important than what you do
o What matters is the motivation of the agent; whether they have a ‘Good
will’
o A ‘Good will’ is the intention to act in accordance with the moral law
o Obeying the moral law requires doing what is right because it is right
KANT
Kant outlines two types of imperatives (oughts)
Hypothetical Imperative
Categorical Imperative
A Conditional Ought
A Moral Ought
If You Don’t Want X
(Hypothesis)
Categorical
Must be Universal and
Exceptionless
Then You Ought to Y
(Condition)
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Cannot be conditional on
individual desires
Categorical Imperatives
In its most general form the categorical imperative states:
Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that
it should become a universal law
The categorical imperative is a test for rightness or wrongness of an action
A categorical imperative is an absolute and universal moral ought
We are obligated to obey the categorical imperative because of our nature as
rational beings
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Using the Categorical Imperative (p. 409)
Stage 1: Can I will doing X universally, that is, everyone in
similar circumstances doing X?
No, it would result in a
contradiction.
=
Doing X is wrong
Yes
=
Doing X is morally
permissible
Stage 2: If “yes:” Can I will to omit X universally, that is, no
one in similar circumstances doing X?
No.
=
Doing X is a moral
obligation
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Yes
=
X is a right action but not
an obligation
Are the following moral or immoral according to the categorical imperative?
Murder
Lying
Stealing
Cheating in exams
Invading foreign nations
Slavery
Oppressing women
In all cases the moral value depends on:
1) Whether we could universalize the action without contradiction
2) Whether we can omit the action universally
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Variations of the categorical imperative
Version 1
Act only according to that maxim by which you can at
the same time will that it should become a universal
law
Version 2 (p.410)
Act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own
person or in that of another, always as an end and
never as a means only
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Are the following moral or immoral according to version 2 of the categorical
imperative?
Murder
Lying
Stealing
Cheating in exams
Invading foreign nations
Slavery
Oppressing women
According to the 2nd version we must ask
Does the action treat humanity as a means only rather than an end?
KANT