Kantian Ethics Flashcards
What is good will?
Good will is being driven by duty to act in act in accordance with the moral law. Kant suggests that this is the sole source of moral worth.
What is the first formulation of the categorical imperative?
Act only according to that maxim whereby you can will that it should become universal law without contradiction.
What is the second formulation of the categorical imperative?
Act in such a way that you treat humanity whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never as merely a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end.
What is the difference between perfect and imperfect duties?
A perfect duty completely follows the Categorical imperative and is in harmony with the formulations. An imperfect duty doesn’t contradict the categorical imperative but isn’t in harmony with them.
How does Kant respond to the problem of clashing/competing duties?
He says that if 2 perfect duties cannot be rationally inconsistent or contradictory. In the Axeman example you have a perfect duty to tell the truth and an imperfect duty to care for others.
What example does Satre propose of 2 clashing imperfect duties?
A young man in Vichy France has to choose between his imperfect duty to his country and his imperfect duty to his mother who has lost all of her other sons.
What are issues with Kantian ethics other than clashing duties?
Universalising maxims and morality - chew food 32 times.
The moral value of consequences - Axeman example.
The value of other motives - Gilligan (care)
Impersonal perspective - Williams can’t remove ‘I’ from ‘should I do’
Morality is a system of hypothetical imperatives - Foot claims morality is the end not psychological hedonism. It is like following a custom/tradition.
