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Ethics > Kantian Ethics > Flashcards

Kantian Ethics Flashcards

1
Q

What is Kants main work

A

Groundwork of the metaphysics of morals

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2
Q

Duty

A

Acting morally according to the good regardless of the consequences

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3
Q

Good will

A

The only thing in the world that is inherently good at all times

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4
Q

What two things does Kant argue are false intentions

A
  • Basing views of right and wrong on consequences not in our control
  • Decisions shouldn’t be based on our inclinations as our emotions change often
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5
Q

What does Kant argue does matter with decisions

A

That we logically work out what our duty should be and then we uphold it purely because it is our duty.

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6
Q

Maxim

A

the rule we have in mind and follow when carrying out an action or decision

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7
Q

Hypothetical imperative

A

These are ‘If then’ commands, that identify actions we ought to take if we desire a specific goal

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8
Q

Hypothetical imperative example

A

Don’t eat cake.
or what is meant is
Don’t eat cake, IF you want to lose weight.

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9
Q

Categorical imperative

A

A command that is absolute and good in itself regardless of the consequences, it is human duty to act in service of these

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10
Q

What are Kants three formulations in his categorical imperative

A

1 - Formula of the law of nature
2 - Person as ends
3 - Kingdom of ends

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11
Q

What did Kant argue isnt acting morally

A

Acting out of compassion and happiness, basing actions on intended or predicted consequences

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12
Q

Universalisability

A

when logically considering an action it is clear that something isnt good if it can’t be universalised, good actions can be universalised

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13
Q

Person as ends

A

People should be treated as Des in themselves as all humans are free rational beings, humans shouldn’t be treated as a means to an end for some kind of purpose

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14
Q

What are the three formulations for

A

Tests that can be applied to a maxim to find out if it is a categorical imperative and so a wholly good action

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15
Q

Kingdom of End

A

Effectively combines the first two, enforcing that all people in society are individuals and autonomous and we are all members of a community so we must act in this community with respect for all people

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16
Q

What is the main rejection to Kants second formulation

A

It is impossible to not treat others as a means to an end unless we grow all our own food, make our own house, make our own clothes, teach ourselves everything

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17
Q

How does Phillips Foot challenge Kant

A

Kant doesn’t have an adequate explanation for motives and desires, these are what drive human action, hypotheticals give humans a reason to act, categorical just tells people not to do a certain thing

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18
Q

What is Foots conclusion for a better system of morality

A

Many virtues and good character traits must be freely chosen, it is hoped for good morality that these good virtues motivate humans to action but they could not
—-> This is the reason why all morality is hypothetical, we shouldn’t be prescript to be virtuous but rather volunteers

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19
Q

Why is the good will purely good

A

It is the intention to do the right thing

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20
Q

Why is Kant deontological

A

he has no concern for consequences only that the right action is done in the moment

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21
Q

What are Kants three postulates

A
  • God
  • Afterlife
  • Free will
22
Q

Why did Kant reject the hypothetical imperative

A

Acceptable to do morally wrong acts like stealing and lying if someone can justify the consequences

23
Q

Explain Kants postulation about God

A

Summom Bonus can’t be achieved in this life so there must be another in which a god can provide us with this, otherwise morality would make no sense

24
Q

Explain Kants postulation about Afterlife

A

Summom Bonus doesn’t happen in this life so there must be an afterlife where virtue and sacrifice in this world can be united with happiness

25
Q

Explain the postulation about free will

A

Kant placed importance on the human ability to reason as this was our unique faculty, for reason to truly work humans must have complete freedom to come to a moral decision, if commanded to do something then this isn’t freedom as we aren’t reasoning

26
Q

Example of the first formulation

A

Axe Murder, lying can’t be universalised, not morally responsible for friends death

27
Q

Example of second formulation

A

Lying promise, man uses friend as a means to get money that he knows he won’t pay back

28
Q

Example for third formulation

A

Man question whether he should help others, Kant says he should because a society in the kingdom of ends would have everyone being helped universal and helping someone is treating them as an ends
—–> can be argues no act is other treating someone as means in themselves as there is always self gratification

29
Q

For Kant what are moral statements

A

Apriori Synthetic

30
Q

How does John Rawls support Kants Kingdom of Ends

A

Veil of ignorance, Thought experiment that we have to devise rules for a society before we knew our place, we would straight away ban all prejudices as we wouldn’t want be prejudiced, making the world how fit should be, this is the kingdom of ends

31
Q

Reasons why Kant is helpful in practical moral decision making

A
  • Avoids personal bias and different interpretation by enforcing one moral rule of duty
  • universality enforces equality
  • Duty and reason avoids emotion taking hold over decisions
  • Doesn’t rely on predicting consequences
  • values all humans correcting principle of utility
  • Can be seen as secular
32
Q

Reasons why Kant is not helpful in practical decision making

A
  • It is absolutist so very inflexible
  • Outcomes of situations can be predictable so should be considered sometimes
  • Categorical imperatives can clash
  • unrealistic view of how society operates and how humans make decisions
  • universalisability is flawed because things that cant be universalised aren’t necessarily immoral like eating nuts
  • Outdated
  • Kant contradicts his theory by hypothesising about theological aspect, if this isnt true then his whole theory isnt reliable
  • Human reason isn’t a reliable moral decision maker
33
Q

How does MacIntyre criticise Kant

A
34
Q

Perfect Duty

A

a duty where the maxim cannot be universalised due to a logical contradiction, a false promise

35
Q

Imperfect Duty

A

maxims that preset situations that no rational person would desire or will

36
Q

Why does right and wrong depend on duty

A

Duty is rational so doesn’t allow for emotion to influence it, also upholds respect of people

37
Q

Why doesn’t right and wrong depend on duty

A

It doesn’t obey to everyday life and conflicting duties raise problems, duty can be in danger of being combined with authoritarianism

38
Q

What was Kant influenced by and a part of

A

The enlightenment

39
Q

What was the enlightenment

A

Expressed use of reason and scientific methods, political liberty to move away from authoritarian religions and states

40
Q

How would Barth criticise Kants reliance on reason

A

Human reason is flawed and corrupt so only gods revelation can show people how to act morally

41
Q

How does Kant rely on reason

A

He believes moral law is a product of reason, we can rationally understand the categorical imperative, upholds autonomy of people

42
Q

How would Goleman and Aristotle criticise Kants reliance on reason

A

Aristotle expressed that there were irrational parts of the soul, Goleman also talks about embracing the emotional aspects of human nature more

43
Q

How does Freud criticise Kants reliance on reason

A

Moral thinking is the subconscious drive produced by our upbringing, so it isn’t reason but more our instincts

44
Q

How does SE criticise Kants reliance on reason

A

Agape is a better principle than duty and reason

45
Q

How is Kants use of human reason warranted

A
  • Moral duties are apriori and synthetic so come under the sphere of reason
  • All people have ability to reason so by allowing people to use their reason this respects personal autonomy
  • One fixed human nature and one fixed way of reasoning, so all people should come to the same conclusions about the categorical imperatives, like maths question
46
Q

W.D Ross in kantians ethics

A

His prima facie duties attempt to define duties that are more important than others like fidelity and justice

47
Q

How do the three postulates significantly weaken Kantian ethics

A

He pinned the whole purpose of his theory of doing duty to be rewarded for being moral on the existence of a god and afterlife

48
Q

How would Kant counter argue the criticism of his three postulates

A

Doing Duty with the motive of the afterlife is wrong as duty should be motiveless only the fact that we worked it out to the be morally correct thing to do, reward for being moral is just a benefit not the motive

49
Q

Psychological egoism

A

All acts have some sort of selfish motive, even if its self gratification

50
Q

For Kant why can bad consequences of an action be acceptable if the action is good

A

The universe is fair so will work out in the ends, this is because of the summum bonus

51
Q

Example of duties clashing

A

Promise to hide jewish family, but Nazis asking if there are jews in your house

Ethics (9 decks)

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