5.1 Deontology- Kantian ethics Flashcards
(31 cards)
Why did Kant create deontological ethics?
To create a moral system independent of religion, based on reason and duty
What does deontological mean?
Set of rules focused on actions rather than consequences
What is the Good will?
Kant believed the consequences of actions are no guide to morality and what solely counts is the action- the good will
The good will is fre from self-interest and calculation of consequences, not about pleasurable emotions as it is independent of personal desire
What is a catagorical imperative?
they say ‘do this’- embody our moral duty, unconditionally binding and apply equally to all rational beings
universal and necessary, we can use it to work out laws based on our duty to perform
What is a hypothetical imperative?
Depends on you- commands which are only true in certain situations
if you want x to happen do y
What is the first formulation of Kant’s catagorical imperative?
UNIVERSALISM
- rules applied are the same for everyone in all cultures all the time
2 tests to see if the rules we are creating are universal:
1. Contradiction in conception or contradiction in nature- rule is wrong if the situation requiring the rule is contradictory- e.g If i need money I’ll borrow money with no intention of paying it back. Then meaning no one would lend money causing a contradiction
2. Contradiction in will- can’t will something that blocks the end or the means to get to the end
What is the second formulation of Kant’s catagorical imperative?
RESPECT
- because we are rational beings we have inherent value and Kant believes we must respect this value
- Must consider people’s feelings and needs
Strengths of Kant’s argument
- Takes account of justice
- Makes a sharp distinction between duty and inclination
- Used objective reason- demands consistency and necessity
- Moral authority does not come from God
Weaknesses of Kant’s argument
- Just because a rule is universal does not make it morally good
- Too optimistic- not all humans have rationality or ability to reason
- Creates absolute rules- does not allow exceptions
- Doesn’t say what to do if duties conflict
- Doesn’t rank multiple duties, hard to know by which to act from
- too rigid
Does Kant’s approach compliment religious approaches to Ethics?
Not particularly as he is basing ethics on reason not faith
Who was W.D Ross?
Scottish philosopher arguing for deontological ethics
- Argued Morality should be grounded in moral institutions
- prima facie duties
What is D.W Ross’ ethical argument?
Prima facie duties- duties that are all binding, something you must do unless other stronger moral considerations override obligation
What are the prima facie duties presented by WD Ross?
- fidelity- must keep promises
- reparation- must make amends
- gratitude- being grateful
- justice and fairness- being fair
- benefice- think about others’ feelings
- self-improvement- be the best verion of yourself
- non-malfeasance- not purposefully harming others
What are the criticisms of WD Ross’ moral argument?
- How do we know which duties apply when?
- The duties described may be dervied from societal norms rather than intuition- we do it because it is socially accepted not because it is our duty
- Does not explain the reason for having moral intuitions in the first place, just assumes they exist
- Moral truths are not self-evident as he presents them
What does Thomas Nagel’s deontology say?
- makes a distinction between agent-relative nd agent-neutral reasons for moral decisions
1. agent-relative: stem from personal desires
2. agent-neutral: consider everyone, not just the moral agent making the choice, objective, impersonal - believes moral decision-making should be based on agent-relative reasons, as it allows humans to use their reason
What was Aristotle’s version of virtue ethics?
Nichomachean Ethics (350 BCE)
- It’s one thing to know is ‘the Good’ but acting on it is different
What is Aristotle’s function argument?
Everything a person does has a purpose (telos). Everything has a function (ergon) and being good is performing well at your function
P1) Good for the members of a kind is to perform well the function distinctive to their kind
P2) To perform the function distinctive of one’s kind is to perform it in accordance with the relevant virtues
IC1) Therefore, the Good for members of any kind is to perform their function according to their virtues
P3) The function is distinctive of humans is rationality
IC2) Therefore, the Good for humans is rationality in accordance with virtue
P4) Happiness is good for humans
C) Therefore, happiness is rationality in accordance with virtue
What is human beings distincitive end purpose?
To be reational and achieve Eudaimonia
what is arete?
innate exellence
- achieved by practicing arete reason becomes an activity for the soul which leads to Eudaimonia
What is Eudaimonia?
human flourishing
- Aristotle saw this as the goal for humans in life, but that pleasure doesnt lead to happiness only flourishing leads to true happiness
- Aristotle means to live virtuously to achieve Eudaimomnia
What are aristotle’s intellectual and moral virtues?
- Intellecutal: virtues of the mind, like understanding reason- can be taught
- Moral: to do with someone’s moral agent, acquired through practise and repetition of moral judgement
What are Aristotle’s 4 cardinal virtues?
- Pridence
- Temperance
- fortitude
- justice
What is the doctrine of the mean?
AKA the golden mean
Getting the balance right between extremes- about acting in mean between excess and deficiency
- Don’t under or over react
How does Aristotle suggest to develop a moral character?
Draws a clear distinction between passions, capacities, and states of character
- Passion: our bodily appetites (food and drink), our emotions, and feelings associated with pleasure or pain- we can’t choose them
- Capacities: faculties e.g sight- naturally occuring
- Virtues: Dispositions to act- something we develop out of habit
