Kantian Deontology

Question 1

3 Postulates

Answer 1

These are things that must exist in order for his theory to stand

• Immortality of the Soul
• Existence of God
• Freedom

Question 2

Immortality of the Soul

Answer 2

One cannot achieve perfection a single lifetime. the only way that one can therefore justify living a good life is that rewards will come in the afterlife

Question 3

Existence of God

Answer 3

Existence of God is necessary for a just universe and to provide us with an afterlife.
This is not the same as saying that God exists, however

Question 4

Freedom

Answer 4

Humans are autonomous moral agents and have the ability to make rational choices. Freedom is necessary for us to recognise and carry out our duties

Question 5

Formulations of the Categorical Imperative

Answer 5

• Universalisability Principle
• Humans as ends in themselves
• The principle of a Universal Kingdom of Ends

Question 6

Universalisability Principle

Answer 6

We can discover moral absolutes by apply a certain action universally to every situation. If this action is justified in every situation, then it is our duty to do it. In this way, morality is derived from reason

Question 7

Categorical Imperative

Answer 7

This is a universal law that must be obeyed. They are derived using the formulations of the categorical imperative

Question 8

Duty

Answer 8

If you ‘ought’ to do it, this implies that you can do it and therefore doing it becomes your duty.
To have good will is to do one’s duty

Question 9

Extreme Duty

Answer 9

Acting not only out of self-interest, but at cost to oneself and our own happiness

Question 10

EG the Murderer analogy to imply duty over emotion

Answer 10

If a murderer comes to your house and asks if your friend was hiding there, then you have a duty to be honest, even if it means selling others out.
You cannot let your emotion cloud your morality

Question 11

What does Kant mean by ‘humans are ends in themselves’?

Answer 11

Humans can achieve their own ends via reason and autonomy. This separates us from mere objects.
EG Mugs exist for coffee drinkers but humans exist for ourselves

Question 12

What is the second formulation of the categorical imperative also referred to as?

Answer 12

Kant’s formula for humanity

Question 13

Universal Kingdom of Ends

Answer 13

We are working towards a more impartial and fair society. Everyone in society desires the same common ends in humanity

Question 14

Hypothetical imperatives

Answer 14

Refers to commands that have to be reached in order to achieve a certain aim (If I want X then I ought to do Y)

Question 15

When is the Hypothetical Imperative used?

Answer 15

If the moral agent wants X but believes it to be impossible to achieve
EG the moral aim of eliminating poverty in Africa can be achieved by alleviating the huge debts of African countries

Question 16

Summum Bonum

Answer 16

This is the highest form of good, which can only be achieved in the moral community. Kant felt that the implementation of his ethic would lead to this.
However, this could only be reached after death as the nature of the afterlife and unity with God is completely unknown

Question 17

What is requires for the growth of the Summer Bonum?

Answer 17

1) Good (moral goodness/righteousness)

2) Well-being (contentment)

Question 18

STRENGTH about autonomy

Answer 18

Humans become the authors of their own morality as they are morally autonomous

Question 19

STRENGTH about impartiality

Answer 19

The idea that no humans should be treated as a means to an end promotes equality and impartiality

Question 20

Falls to the CRITICISM that is present in all absolutist ethics

Answer 20

it is far too rigid and not adaptable to the complexities of life.
What are we to do when there is conflicting duties?
EG it does not take into account emotions which are an important factor in the human existence. Duty can even be guided by human sympathy

Question 21

CRITICISM about animals

Answer 21

Kant sees animals as inferior as they cannot reason. This means that they can be treated as means to an end

Question 22

Bernard Williams’ CRITICISM: Argument of Moral Luck

Answer 22

Kant ignores the circumstances of a moral action. An individual may think that they are doing good when they do X but due to the circumstances this is not the case.

Question 23

Philippa Foot’s CRITICISM: Law of double effect

Answer 23

Kant gives insufficient guidance in some situations. Should a terminally ill patient be administered painkillers to ease suffering if it means that they will die sooner? Equally, the harm in shortening life was prioritised, then should the patient be allowed to suffer in trade for a longer life?

Question 24

WD Ross’ Prima Facie theory

Answer 24

Exceptions should be made to Kant’s duties, which would be called ‘prima facie duties’. Ross was an intuitionist who believed that moral absolutes we’re known intuitively

Question 25

Prima Facie Duties (7)

Answer 25

1) Promise Keeping 2) Reparation for harm done 3) Gratitude 4) Justice 5) Beneficience (generosity) 6) Self-improvement 7) Non-Maleficence

Question 26

What 3 words describe the nature of thee categorical imperative?

Answer 26

Universal, unchanging, and absolute

Question 27

What is 'good will' according to Kant?

Answer 27

Good will is the only good free from self -interest

Question 28

What does 'good will' cause us to do?

Answer 28

It forces us to enact out duty by following the categorical imperative. In acting out this duty we can achieve the summer bonum

Question 29

What is the nature of ethical statements?

Answer 29

They are synthetic a priori

Question 30

What does it mean for an ethical statement to be synthetic a priori?

Answer 30

They are deduced by reason but may be wrong and so they have to be tested

Question 31

Contradiction in will

Answer 31

Where the will of a person contradicts what the universalisation of the maxim implies

Question 32

Contradiction in conception

Answer 32

Where the maxim, when universalised, is no longer a viable means to an end

Question 33

What is the defining feature of a person for Kant?

Answer 33

Rationality

Question 34

Why does the foetus have the right not to be treated as a means to an end?

Answer 34

It has the potential to become a person

Question 35

Why does the woman not have the right to self-determination in abortion?

Answer 35

She cannot create her own laws, she must abide by the laws of nature. We have an extreme duty not to kill and thus abortion can never be fully permitted

Question 36

What kind of contradiction is abortion?

Answer 36

contradiction in conception | We cannot have the maxim 'all babies should be aborted' universalised as humanity would cease to exist

Question 37

Pregnancy from rape

Answer 37

NO You cannot universalise the maxim that all babies conceived via rape should be aborted as those who have already been born would have to will themselves out of existence

Question 38

Foetus diagnosed with a disability

Answer 38

NO | You are using the foetus as a means to an end

Question 39

Mother's life is in danger

Answer 39

The baby is not a potential person as if nature ran its course, it would not survive. This means that there will be no contradiction in will or conception to abort

Question 40

What are the 2 conditions in which Kant justifies war?

Answer 40

1) it must be authorised by the people | 2) it should aim to establish a condition more closely approaching a rightful condition

Question 41

What are the 6 negative articles Kant gives to decrease the likelihood of war?

Answer 41

1) No temporary peace treaties 2) No annexation of one state by another 3) No professional armies 4) No authorisation of national debt to pay for war 5) No interference in the internal affairs of another state 6) No acts in war which breed mistrust and make peace impossible

Question 42

What are the 3 positive articles Kant gives to prevent war?

Answer 42

1) Every state should have a republican constitution 2) Each state shall participate in a league of nations 3) Cosmopolitan rights of universal hospitality

Question 43

How can self-defence be justified?

Answer 43

Kant universalises the maxim of preserving one's life. This means that violence may be appropriate in self-defence

Question 44

Why is the discrimination of combatants and non-combatants important?

Answer 44

You would be using the non-combatants as a means to an end. Thus, no WMDs

Question 45

Why is Kant against conscription?

Answer 45

It undermines individual autonomy

Question 46

What outcomes justify war?

Answer 46

- Bringing of justice and 'perpetual peace' | - Original reasons for war are emphasised because of Kant's focus on motivation and duty

Question 47

What are Orend's 5 Kantian articles for ending the conflict?

Answer 47

1) whether the objective has been achieved 2) terms of peace declared by a legitimate authority 3) punishment is limited only to hose directly responsible for the conflict 4) winning party must submit to judgement 5) peace terms must be proportional to the original offence

Question 48

What is casuistry?

Answer 48

Taking moral issues one a case-by-case basis | Kant may be doing this in not universalising murder and justifying war