Kantian Duty Ethics

Kantian Duty Ethics Lesson 5

Kantian Duty Ethics • Immanuel Kant • 18th century German Philosopher Believed reason could be used to work out a consistent and nonoverridable set of moral principles. Such moral rules would be universal.

Kantian Duty Ethics • Kant’s ‘Duty’ ethics are a moral obligation which must come from within each individual. • Where do our military duties come from?

“The obligation to do our duty is unconditional. That is, we must do it for the sake of duty, because it is the right thing to do, not because it will profit us psychologically, or economically, not because if we don’t do it and get caught we’ll be punished. The categorical imperative was Kant’s name for this inbred, self-imposed restraint, for the command of conscience within that tells us that the only true moral act is done from a pure sense of duty.” Admiral James Stockdale

Kantian Duty Ethics “Morality is not based on the fact that it has instrumental value, that it often secures nonmoral goods such as happiness. Rather, morality is valuable in its own right.” Louis Pojman on Kant

Kantian Duty Ethics “It is not our desires that ground morality but our rational will. Reason is sufficient for establishing the moral law as something transcendent and universally binding on all rational creatures.” Louis Pojman of Kant

Kantian Duty Ethics • Kant’s motivation: • wants “supreme principle of morality” with a firm foundation in reason... • wants principle with intuitive view about morality - Moral rules that are: • universally applicable • exert a special force on us • concerned with more than just outcomes

Kantian Duty Ethics What is good? Only the ‘Good Will.’ Talents of mind, qualities of temperament, personal attributes, while desirable and beneficial can be misused without the Good Will.

Kantian Duty Ethics • Kant’s Imperative or Command • Categorical Imperative (CI) • Single abstract principle • Different formulations - basic idea the same • Intuitive, immediate, absolute injunctions that all rational agents understand by virtueof their rationality.

Kantian DefinitionsWhat is Right? • “GOOD WILL”: THE INTENTION/CHOICE THAT IMPELS A PERSON TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT. SELF IMPOSED, THROUGH REASON. • RIGHT ACTIONS: ARE THOSE ACTIONS DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH “DUTY” • DUTY: ACTION MANDATED BY THE MORAL LAW. DOING THE THINGS YOU ARE PERMITTED BY THE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE • CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE: A MORAL “TEST” FOR RIGHTNESS OF AN ACT • AN ACTION HAS “MORAL WORTH” IF IT CONFORMS TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF DUTY, AND IS DONE FOR THE SAKE OF DUTY, AND NOT FOR SOME OTHER INTENTION Source: Captain Rubel USNA

Kant’s Categorical Imperative 3 - Formulations • “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it would become a universal law.” • Act “as though the maxim of your action were by your will to become a universal law of nature” such as the laws of physics. • ‘Act so that you treat humanity, whether in you’re your own person or that of another, always as an end and never as a means only.’ • - ‘Maxim’ refers to general rule with which agent intends to act. • - ‘Law’ refers to an objective principle, a ‘maxim’ which passes the test of universalizability.

In Kantian Terms, there is a difference between an action being Blameworthy, Acceptable and Praiseworthy. • BLAMEWORTHY ACCEPTABLE PRAISEWORTHY • - 0 + • |--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------| • ACT ACT RIGHTLY ACT RIGHTLY • WRONGLY BUT NOT FROM AND FROM RIGHT • RIGHT MOTIVE MOTIVE (GOOD WILL) • Dr Larry Lengbeyer + • Captain Rubel USNA

Kantian Duty Ethics • Categorical Imperative (CI) • If you wouldn’t want everyone to act on the rule, then that action is morally wrong. • Act “as though the maxim of your action were by your will to become a universal law of nature” such as the laws of physics. • Consequences?

Kantian Duty Ethics • Results of Kant’s Categorical Imperative • one should treat people with respect • one should never lie • one should never commit suicide • one should never break one’s promises • etc.

Kantian Duty Ethics • “Right actions are those actions done in accordance with duty” • What is the motive of duty? Reverence (respect) for the moral law. • Duty for the sake of duty?

Kantian Ethics - Strengths • Realm of duty free from utility • Respect for persons • Golden rule – do unto others, expressed in rational terms Source: Capt. Rubel USNA

Kantian Ethics - Weaknesses • Hyper-rationality and lack of emotion • The irrelevance of inclination • Overly formal and universal, i.e., most of our duties are in social roles • Inflexibility Source: Capt. Rubel USNA

Kantian Duty Ethics Consider: “But men and officers must obey…..” Kantian Ethics?

Questions?Next: Truth - Telling

Kantian Duty Ethics • Two approaches to moral reasoning: Teleological: related to the study of evidences of design in nature; relating to the use of design or purpose as an explanation of natural phenomena. Consequences can make an act right - Utilitarianism Deontological: related to the theory or study of moral obligation. Certain features of act or rule make it right or wrong. Ends do not justify means

Kantian Duty Ethics • Suppose we evaluate a person as morally good for performing a good act - say, saving a drowning child - but did not know that the person did what they did out of self-interest - say, to get publicity or money. • Is this likely to change our evaluation of the act or of the person? • Can you think of contrasting cases, one where this knowledge would make a difference and one where it would not?

Kantian Duty Ethics • Kantian ethics is often said to be grounded in a principle of respect for persons. Why, according to Kant, should we respect other persons?

Kantian Duty Ethics • What is the relationship between the Kantian notions of autonomy, good will, duty, and self-legislation? • Kant claims respects is due to all persons in virtue of their rational capacities. Why is this? • What does respect have to do with a person’s capacity to make rational choices?

Kantian Duty Ethics • I am a self-sacrificing woman. I please my spouse, support his cause, deny myself some of my needs in order to promote his career. I have deferred my career for his, and I am regularly the one who makes the sacrifices for the family. • Does this policy pass Kant’s CI test? How or how not?

Kantian Duty Ethics • How does Kant’s categorical imperative differ from the Golden Rule (“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”)?

Kantian Duty Ethics