PHI 112-Test 3, Part 1-Kant & Deontology

Question 1

Did Kant want to show rationalist or empiricists that morality was necessary?

Answer 1

Empiricists

Question 2

What saying can act-intuitionism be compared to?

Answer 2

“Let your conscience be your guide.”

Question 3

Categorical imperatives call one to fulfill the duty that has…

Answer 3

Intrinsic value

Question 4

Hypothetical imperatives give one the opportunity to

Answer 4

Do the act that benefits one self

Question 5

Categorical imperatives call one to fulfill the duty that has…

Answer 5

Intrinsic value (“duty for duty’s sake”)

Question 6

Explain the following three influences on Kant: Pietism-Rosseau-Rationalism-

Answer 6

Pietism: Honest deep feeling moral life Rosseau: Human freedoms dignity worth Rationalism: Reason tells us how the world is, independent of experience

Question 7

Even though Kant believes the good will is good without qualification, it can still be put to…

Answer 7

bad use.

Question 8

Empiricism

Answer 8

The belief that knowledge comes from experience; our minds are empty slates (tabula rasa)upon which experience writes lessons

Question 9

Intuitionism

Answer 9

Humans have natural faculty that gives us an intuitive awareness of morality

Question 10

Act-intuitionism

Answer 10

Theory we must consult our moral intuition or conscience in every situation to discover the morally right thing to do (Butler)

Question 11

Common statement associated with Butler

Answer 11

“Let your conscience be your guide”

Question 12

Rule-intuitionism

Answer 12

We must decide what is right or wrong in each situation by consulting moral rules that we receive through intuition

Question 13

Pufendorf’s three duties and Kant’s use of them

Answer 13

Pufendorf: duty to self, others, and God; Kant: moral duty to self and others, but duties to God are religious, not moral

Question 14

Categorical imperative

Answer 14

This is a moral imperative that is unqualified and does not depend on one’s desires, it is doing one’s duty for duty’s sake. The action is done because it has intrinsic value.

Question 15

The good will

Answer 15

the only thing absolutely good without qualification

Question 16

The principle of law of nature

Answer 16

“Act as though the maxim of your action were by your will to become a universal law of nature.”

Question 17

Remember these two of the four examples of “practical contradiction” Kant gives to back up his theory.

Answer 17

Making a lying promise and committing suicide.

Question 18

Remember this counterexample to the Principle of Law of Nature:

Answer 18

Prohibiting permissible actions, like flushing the toilet everyday at a certain time as long as it does not effect the plumbing system.

Question 19

Prima facie duties

Answer 19

(“at first glance”) Duty that is tentatively binding on us until this duty conflicts with another (Ross)

Question 20

Actual duty

Answer 20

Ross argued this is the stronger of two conflicting duties (it overrides the weaker one in conflict).

Question 21

How does Ross’ “prima facie duties” and “actual duties” transform the Kantian system of ethics?

Answer 21

It transforms Kant’s absolutism into a modest objectivist system. (Kant would not allow this.)

Question 22

What are the three formulations of the Categorical Imperative?

Answer 22

The principle of the law of nature, the principle of ends, and the principle of autonomy.