Kantian Ethics

Question 1

What should motivate our actions according to Kant?

Answer 1

We should not base our views on the consequences of our actions - the only thing that is good at all times is our good intentions.

Question 2

What is a hypothetical imperative?

Answer 2

An ‘if-then’ statement that is conditional on its end.

They cannot be moral.

Question 3

Why is Kantian ethics deontological?

Answer 3

Kant does not look at the consequence of the actions but the action independently.

Question 4

What are the three formulations of the categorical imperative?

Answer 4

Formula of the law of nature

Formula of the end itself

Formula of the kingdom of ends

Question 5

What is the formula of the law of nature?

Answer 5

Universalisation - you should only act on an ethical principle if it’s logically possible for everyone to act on it.

Question 6

What is a quote for the formula of the law of nature?

Answer 6

‘So act that the maxim of your will could always hold at the same time as a principle establishing universal law’

Question 7

What are two examples of the formula of the law of nature that Kant uses?

Answer 7

Suicide - Kant said this could not be universalised as it would lead to a contradiction as life is a fundamental principle of nature.

Borrowing money - a man needs to borrow money but knows he will never be able to pay it back, this could never be universalised.

Question 8

What does Kant mean by ‘contradiction of will’?

Answer 8

Kant thought that maxims - such as ‘always refuse to help others’ - could not be universalised as they contradict our rational will to achieve ends.

Question 9

What is the formula of the kingdom of ends?

Answer 9

We live in a kingdom where everyone has a good will and has similar ideas of what is good.
We must act as if everyone also acts in that way, acting in the wrong way means people will too.

Question 10

What is a quote for the formula of the end itself?

Answer 10

‘Act in such a way that you always treat humanity…never simply as means but always as an end’.

Question 11

What is a quote the formula of the kingdom of ends?

Answer 11

‘Act as if you were, through your maxims, a law making member of the kingdom of ends’

Question 12

What is the formula of the end itself?

Answer 12

If we use somebody for something we are denying them of something else, for example, using someone for money derives them of love.

Therefore, you should not use people in order to get what you want.

Question 13

Why would Kant disapprove of the construction of the Bakun Dam?

Answer 13

The displaced indigenous people were treated as means to an end - their rights were not taken into account.

Question 14

What is the summum bonum?

Answer 14

The supreme good whereby we do good and it brings happiness for all.

Kant argued you cannot attain the summum bonum if you are simply acting morally to reach it. You must be acting out of good will, not just to attain a goal.

Question 15

What are the three postulates?

Answer 15

Freedom, immortality, God

Question 16

How do the three postulates link to the idea of the summum bonum?

Answer 16

The three postulates can explain to an individual why they should act morally as being moral is rational.

This helps people to reach the summum bonum.

Question 17

Freedom: three postulates

Answer 17

You can’t make a moral decision without freedom as this helps us to discover our duty.

‘For if the moral law commands that we ought to be better human beings…we must be capable of being better human beings’

Question 18

Immortality: three postulates

Answer 18

The summum bonum cannot be found in this life hence there must be another life where this is found.

Happiness cannot be found in this world as there is injustice everywhere.

Question 19

God: three postulates

Answer 19

If the summum bonum cannot be achieved in this life, there must be a God so that there can be an afterlife.

Question 20

How does Kant’s reliance on ‘ought implies can’ create a problem for his line of reasoning?

Answer 20

Just because we ought to do something, it does not mean that we can do it.

Question 21

Why does Kant think that it is important that we respect autonomy?

Answer 21

Each of us have the power of reason within us, we should respect this.

Question 22

Why is it important that Kant believes in a fixed human nature?

Answer 22

He believes that we all reason in one way therefore we conclude the same things about catagorical imperatives.

Question 23

What does Barth believe about reason?

Answer 23

Reason can often be insufficient, especially when helping to understand God.

Question 24

Why may Kantian ethics be too abstracts and unrealistic for moral decision making?

Answer 24

Idealized concept of morality - humans cannot remove themselves from their emotions as they are imperfect.

Kant focuses on unrealistic principles - when faced with a no win situation his ethic becomes unhelpful.

Question 25

Should ethical judgement be based on the extent to which duty is served? Agree and disagree.

Answer 25

Kant believes that we should act out of pure motives - this is a strong view of morality. Yet too idealized in difficult situations: Human beings are naturally fallible and conflicted with emotions. Should intentions be prioritized over our love and happiness?

Question 26

Why may Kantian ethics wrongfully reject the importance of other factors such as love?

Answer 26

Feelings often motivate moral actions which is hard to ignore - eg, you would naturally want to save your own child before someone else's when there is a threat posed.

Question 27

General strengths of Kantian ethics

Answer 27

It is logical - based on ability to reason. Ability to make objective moral decisions. Kant sees all humans as having intrinsic value and dignity. It promotes equality and the idea that all people should be treated equally. It allows for freedom and autonomy.

Question 28

Why did Kant place emphasis on autonomy and reason?

Answer 28

He concluded that ethics based on faith and religion did not work as no one came to an agreement. Reason is universal in that everyone has it, but not everyone shares the same faith.

Question 29

Why does Kant believe that morality is categorical rather than hypothetical?

Answer 29

Kant points out that reason discovers universal laws, so, a moral law discoverable by reason will also be universal. This would therefore not be contingent on our personal feelings.

Question 30

What is the example of the shopkeeper that shows we have to act out of good will?

Answer 30

A shopkeeper lowers their prices out of a sense of fairness to their customers. This person has a good will. Another shopkeeper might do the exact same action but out of greed to attract more customers. The difference in intention prevents the latter one from having a good will.

Question 31

What is a categorical imperative?

Answer 31

It represents a rule of conduct that is unconditional or absolute for all agents, meaning its validity does not depend on any desire or end

Question 32

What is a postulate and how does this link to the three postulates?

Answer 32

A postulate is something you have to assume to be true in order to have a basis for reasoning about something. Kant thought that there were three postulates we have to assume to be true if ethics is to be based on reason.

Question 33

What example does Sartre use in order to show how duties can clash?

Answer 33

A soldier trying to decide whether to go to war to defend their country, or stay home and look after his sick parent. They cannot do both, but both are universalizable and neither involve treating people as a mere means. It follows that both are their duty, and so there are clashing duties.

Question 34

What is the example of the axe murderer and how does this contradict Kant's ethic?

Answer 34

A friend is being chased by an axe murderer, the friend hides in your house, the axe murderer comes to your door and asks where the friend is. Kant applies that you should tell them where your friend is but this is unrealistic to detach from your emotions.

Question 35

Why is Kant's formula of the end itself successful?

Answer 35

It maintains the view that life is precious and prevents people from being take advantage of.

Question 36

What does Pojman acknowledge about categorical imperatives?

Answer 36

Pojman acknowledges how not all categorical imperatives are successful - 'whenever it looks like one should experience more pain than pleasure, one should kill oneself'. Kant opposes suicide but his categorical imperatives do not. When exceptions need to be made, Kant's categorical nature falls apart.

Question 37

Why may it be necessary that Kantian ethics is not based on emotion?

Answer 37

Ethical systems based on emotions may fall apart as they can justify selfish conduct.

Question 38

Why may it be important that Kantian ethics rejects factors such as love?

Answer 38

People may become corrupt and immoral by favouring people they like. Morals are arguably important as they allow people to look beyond familial and friendship relations.