Moral: Kant 1. kant the good will duty Flashcards
(20 cards)
What does ‘deon’ mean in Greek?
‘One must’
This term is foundational to the study of deontology.
Deontology claims that actions are right or wrong based on what?
A person’s duties
Not depending on their consequences.
What are the two classes of duties recognized by most deontological theories?
- General duties towards others
- Special duties resulting from personal relationships
What is meant by ‘limiting duty’ in deontology?
A duty to do something for people in need
It contrasts with the duty to maximize good.
What is the importance of intention in deontology?
Types of action are distinguished by intentions
For example, accidental killing versus murder.
Who is Immanuel Kant?
A German philosopher known for his deontological ethics
Lived from 1724 to 1804 during the Enlightenment.
What is a ‘maxim’ according to Kant?
A personal principle that guides decision-making
What does Kant believe about morality?
It is a set of principles that apply to everyone
What constitutes a ‘good will’ according to Kant?
Doing one’s duty because it is morally right
Motivated by duty.
What is the distinction between ‘acting in accordance with duty’ and ‘acting out of duty’?
- Acting in accordance with duty: doing the right thing for any motive
- Acting out of duty: doing the right thing solely because it is right
Why does Kant argue that only actions done out of duty have true moral worth?
Because they are motivated solely by duty, not by self-interest
What is Kant’s Categorical Imperative?
The supreme principle of morality that generates moral rules
What is the First Formulation of the Categorical Imperative?
‘Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law’
How does the First Formulation of the Categorical Imperative assess a maxim?
By determining if it can be universalized into a moral rule
What is an example of a maxim that fails the First Formulation of the Categorical Imperative?
‘To make a false promise to repay money’
Universalizing this maxim would result in a contradiction.
What does Kant think about consequences in relation to moral actions?
Consequences are not morally relevant
What is the role of reason in Kantian ethics?
To determine what our duties are
What is the relationship between the good will and a categorical imperative?
A binding moral rule derived from the good will
What does Kant reject that sets his ethics apart?
Consequentialism
What is the key feature of Kant’s ethical theory?
Morality based on duty, not consequences
