The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals

1. The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Immanuel Kant

2. The Will • Only thing that is intrinsically good • All other goods depend on the good will • For example, political power • Good Will – Good ruler • Bad Will – Bad Ruler • The Will determines how good the other good (i.e. political power)

3. What is a Good Will? • Free, rational will that acts in accordance with duty and not pleasure/desire.

4. What Makes a Human Being? • The ability to act in accordance with moral obligation • We are not designed for acting in accordance to happiness, but to morality • Nature has created us to be reasonable, and so we must act in accordance to this reason rather than happiness • We will see this in one of his four examples (neglect of talents)

5. Moral Actions • Moral actions only have worth if done according to duty • You cannot act for any other intention (i.e. desire/pleasure) • For example, cheating A. Do you act because of a duty to uphold the morality of integrity? B. Or, do you act out of fear of getting caught and punished? • You MUST act according to A and never B

6. Freedom • We are truly free when we act according to duty • Our desires enslave us • Reason frees us from this enslavement • Only actions done according to duty have moral worth, since they are based on reason (i.e. freely chosen without bias from desire)

7. Moral Duty • Universal • Applies to ALL rational beings • Distinguishes duties from preferences • Categorical • All MORAL imperatives (commands) are categorical

8. Hypothetical Imperatives • Conditional • Based on a desired outcome • For example: • Desired outcome is to be a good doctor • Imperative would be to go to a good medical school • Going to medical school is dependant on your desired outcome • It is not a duty • i.e., You do not NEED to go to medical school. You could go to law school

9. Categorical Imperative • Unconditional • You ought to act regardless of context • Morality never commands from desire (i.e. desired outcome) • Duty is unchanging • Morality needs to be based on duty • Moral commands can be immediately identified • Observe the act based on categorical form

10. Maxims • Every action that is morally ratable (CI) is freely willed • Freely chosen acts are physical manifestations of our intentions • Intentions are representative of principles • These principles are maxims

11. Maxims Cont • Action • Stealing • What is the Maxim (i.e. principle) you protrude? • Whenever I want what I cannot afford, I will steal it. • We can only control this Maxim of ours • Only element (i.e. intent) under our control • Outcomes are out of our control • Determined in large part to circumstance of context • Must only act morally on what we can control

12. Example • Nazi Soldier • You agree to hide a Jewish man running from Nazi • Nazi asks if you know where Jewish man is • According to Maxim (I can never falsify information) must be obeyed. • You can only control YOUR principles • You CANNOT control the Nazi’s principles • You have acted morally according to duty; Nazi has acted immorally according to desire

13. Kant’s Supreme Moral Principle • Categorical Imperative – “Act only in accordance with that maxim through which you can at the same time will it to be a universal law.” • Everyone must be able to imitate your act at all times • If not, immoral

14. Categorical Imperative • Must be able to apply it without violating rationality and reason • Shows four examples of this

15. Example 1 • Suicide • Maxim – From self-love I adopt it as a principle to shorten my life when its longer duration is likely to bring more evil than satisfaction.” • Violates rationality • You cannot use self love as an excuse to kill yourself since self love is also the very reason why you try to improve and continue your life.

16. Example 2 • Borrow money under false pretenses • Maxim – When I think myself in want of money, I will borrow money and promise to repay it, although I know I never can do so. • Violates rationality • No statement would be believed, and no one would be able to borrow money since no lender would ever think people are telling the truth.

17. Example 3 • Neglect of talents • Maxim – (Never explicitly stated) – I can neglect natural gifts in favor of indulgences • Violates Rationality • Nature gives talents as part of the law of nature, so man must cultivate out of duty what nature has given them.

18. Example 4 • Charity • Maxim – (NES) Whenever I see someone in need, I will refuse to help them even if I have the physical means to do so • Violates Rationality • When you want help, you will have created a world incapable of helping you

19. Kingdom of Ends • Moral Universe • We create the moral universe through our actions in accordance to duty to moral law • Ask yourself “What kind of world am I willing when I act?” • Must create the moral universe • Combined collection of everyone’s actions

20. Kingdom of Ends, Cont. • In this universe, all rational beings are equal and sovereign • Equal due to our ability to act in accordance to the moral duty with our reason • We make equal contributions to the moral universe • Sovereign since each of us is a creator of this universe

21. Kingdom of Ends • Through KOE, we come to know that all rational beings must be treated not as a means, but always as an end • To treat them as a means denies them their role as equal authors of the moral universe

22. Groundwork Focus Questions • How would Rand react to Kant’s assertion that our desires enslave us? Do you agree with Rand or Kant? • Discuss how Mill would address Kant’s ideas about duty? • To what extent should the pragmatic application of the Supreme Moral Duty influence our moral decisions?

23. Fin