Kantian Ethics

Question 1

What problem did Kant aim to solve with his ethics?

Answer 1

Religious conflict caused by differing faith-based moralities.

Question 2

What was Kant’s solution to religious moral disagreement?

Answer 2

Base morality on reason, which everyone can agree on.

Question 3

What inspired Kant to use reason for ethics?

Answer 3

Scientists like Newton who used reason to revolutionise science.

Question 4

Why must moral laws be universal according to Kant?

Answer 4

Because reason leads to universal laws, like in maths and science.

Question 5

What is a categorical imperative?

Answer 5

A moral rule that applies in all situations.

Question 6

What is a hypothetical imperative?

Answer 6

A rule that applies only if you want a certain outcome.

Question 7

Why did Kant reject hypothetical imperatives?

Answer 7

They depend on personal desires, not universal laws.

Question 8

What are categorical imperatives like in form?

Answer 8

‘You should do X’ – commands that always apply.

Question 9

How many formulations of the categorical imperative did Kant give?

Answer 9

Three formulations.

Question 10

What is the first formulation of the categorical imperative?

Answer 10

Act only on maxims you can will to be universal laws.

Question 11

Give an example of something that can’t be universalised.

Answer 11

Stealing – if everyone stole, property wouldn’t exist.

Question 12

Give another example of something that can’t be universalised.

Answer 12

Lying – if everyone lied, trust would disappear.

Question 13

What is the second formulation of the categorical imperative?

Answer 13

Always treat people as ends, not merely as means.

Question 14

What does treating people as ends mean?

Answer 14

Respecting their goals and humanity.

Question 15

What is the third formulation of the categorical imperative?

Answer 15

Act as if you’re a member of a moral community following Kantian ethics.

Question 16

What is a good will according to Kant?

Answer 16

Doing your duty out of a sense of duty.

Question 17

Why must we act from duty, not emotion?

Answer 17

Because emotions are unreliable – only reason is stable.

Question 18

What are Kant’s three postulates?

Answer 18

Freedom, immortality of the soul, and God.

Question 19

Why is free will important for Kantian ethics?

Answer 19

It makes moral responsibility possible.

Question 20

Why did Kant believe in the afterlife (summum bonum)?

Answer 20

So good people are rewarded and bad punished.

Question 21

What is a postulate in Kantian ethics?

Answer 21

Something assumed to make ethics meaningful.

Question 22

What is the problem of clashing duties?

Answer 22

Sometimes two duties conflict, and both can’t be done.

Question 23

What is Kant’s principle ‘ought implies can’?

Answer 23

You can only have a duty to do what you’re able to do.

Question 24

What does the issue of clashing duties suggest?

Answer 24

Kantian ethics might not be able to guide action.

Question 25

How does Kant defend against the clashing duties problem?

Answer 25

He says perfect duties don’t clash, and imperfect duties allow flexibility.

Question 26

Why is Kant’s defence of clashing duties unconvincing?

Answer 26

Sometimes there’s no way to fulfil both duties.

Question 27

What criticism does Michael Stocker make of Kant?

Answer 27

Morality should include emotions like love and care.

Question 28

What does Bernard Williams mean by ‘one thought too many’?

Answer 28

Moral people don’t always think about duty – they act naturally.

Question 29

How does Kant defend against emotion-based criticisms?

Answer 29

Emotions are unreliable; only reason guarantees moral worth.

Question 30

How does Barbara Herman defend Kant’s view?

Answer 30

Emotion can lead to right actions by luck, not reliably.

Question 31

What is a major evaluation against Kant’s view on emotions?

Answer 31

Virtue ethics shows emotions can be trained and reliable.

Question 32

What is the ‘murderer at the door’ example?

Answer 32

Kant says you must tell the truth, even if it causes harm.

Question 33

Why does this challenge Kantian ethics?

Answer 33

It shows ignoring consequences can lead to bad results.

Question 34

How does Kant defend his view in the murderer case?

Answer 34

You can’t control outcomes, so they shouldn’t guide action.

Question 35

What is a key flaw in Kant’s response to consequentialism?

Answer 35

We can partly control outcomes, so we are partly responsible.

Question 36

What does Peter Singer mean by a ‘reasonable expectation’?

Answer 36

We should act based on likely consequences, even if not certain.