Moral: Kant 4. kantian_deontology_three_issues - Copy Flashcards
(23 cards)
What is a maxim in Kantian deontology?
A personal principle that guides decisions (intention)
Define morality according to Kant.
A set of principles that are the same for everyone and that apply to everyone
What does ‘the will’ refer to in Kantian ethics?
Our ability to make choices and decisions
Fill in the blank: Kant’s categorical imperative states: ‘Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a ______ _____.’
universal law
What does it mean for a duty to be absolute in Kantian ethics?
It permits no exceptions and cannot be overridden
What is a potential conflict that Kantian ethics faces?
Two absolute duties might conflict, e.g., breaking a promise or telling a lie
How might Kant respond to the conflict of duties?
There can be no real conflict of duties; misunderstanding of one duty is the issue
What is a possible solution to conflicting duties according to Kant?
To act on a maxim that can be universalized
True or False: Kant believes that some duties can give way to more important ones.
False
What do utilitarians argue regarding moral value?
Moral reasoning is fundamentally about consequences
According to utilitarians, why is it sometimes acceptable to break a duty?
To prevent greater harm, such as murder for saving lives
Fill in the blank: For Kant, a good will is not to be analyzed as a will that wills ______ _____ without qualification.
good ends
What is means-end reasoning according to utilitarianism?
It is right to do what achieves the good end
How does Kant’s view on practical reasoning differ from utilitarianism?
Kant emphasizes moral obligations beyond means-end reasoning
What is the danger of means-end reasoning in morality?
It risks making morality hypothetical and conditional
What is the only motive with moral worth according to Kant?
The motive of duty (acting out of duty)
Fill in the blank: Kant argues that actions done out of personal feelings are ______ valuable.
instrumentally
What should determine our actions according to Kant?
What is morally right to do, not how we feel
What is the implication of acting out of duty for Kant?
It may lack moral worth if not motivated by duty
How does Kant view the relationship between personal feelings and moral actions?
Feelings can motivate action but should not dictate moral decisions
What is a key term that represents the rational requirement of morality in Kantian ethics?
Categorical imperative
What is a challenge to Kantian deontology regarding the importance of consequences?
Utilitarians argue that moral reasoning should consider consequences
What are some key terms related to Kantian deontology?
- Practical reasoning
- Means-end reasoning
- Good will
- Categorical imperative
- Duty
