Understanding Kant’s Categorical Imperative and Ethical Theory

1. Kant’s Ethical Theory

2. “[I]n ethics what is right in theory must work in practice.”

3. Kant’s model • The purpose of Ethical theory is • to present the ground on which all ethical decisions rest. • to identify the general form of (the formula for) moral goodness.

4. What is Moral goodness? • “Nothing in the world . . . can possibly be conceived as good without qualification except a good will.” • A good will = a free intention to act according to moral law.

5. Morality is: • A given reality: • “the moral law within” • as law it is understood rationally • applied consistently & impartially • without regard to outcomes or specific circumstances • expressed in principles

6. Morality is not: • a matter of what we feel • a matter of what is most efficient • a product of human invention or whim

7. Reason grasps what is universal & objective understands and applies principles Feelings are particular & subjective tend to be arbitrary and unpredictable Reason vs Feeling

8. Kant assumes: • Humans are inherently rational. • Humans possess free will. • Humans are composite beings. • Body (inclinations) and mind (reason). • Which tend to be in conflict • This conflict defines moral struggle.

9. Imperative: It commands Categorical: It commands unconditionally, universally & absolutely, without exception A test for assessing the moral worth of any action: Can I will this action to become a universal law? The Moral Law: Kant’s Categorical Imperative

10. Act only on that maxim which you can will to become universal law.

11. maxim: personal principle of will that directs conduct. will: implies freedom of choice We choose our personal maxims. universal law: analogy is law of nature or laws of physics which apply equally & impartially Laws are objective & universally binding. What does Kant mean?

12. Expresses the basis of all moral action A formal directive expressing what one ought to do, what we are obligated to do. Distinguished from hypotheticalimperative: Do x if you want y. Kant’s Categorical Imperative

13. Principle of Autonomy An action is moral if and only if it is: CHOSEN freely rationally By the self (autonomously) Principle of Freedom: Freedom is a basic quality of the will of all rational beings. We cannot deny our freedom.

14. Duty is rational obligation. We act morally when: we act “from a sense of duty” not just “in accordance with duty” Test of duty is not met when we act from: Habit Instinct Inclination Feelings of any kind A desire to achieve the best consequences Understanding Duty

15. Categorical Imperative 2 • Act always to treathumanity, whether in your own person or in that of any other, . . . at the same time as an end, and nevermerely as a means.

16. Human beings have intrinsic value. They are ends in themselves. No human should be treated merely as a means to someone else’s ends. This is a general moral rule. Individual Responsibility for all our rational actions. But what of non rational actions? How far does intrinsic worth extend? Implications

17. Criticisms of Kant’s approach • Critique 1: Kant’s emphasis on reason devalues the role of feeling and emotion in moral matters • Response: Kant doesn’t say emotions don’t accompany morally potent situations, only that the ground of morality cannot be emotion.

18. Critique: CI admits of no exceptions • Kant does not consider the weight of circumstances • Reply: Kant does distinguish the ideal from the practical; wishing from doing. • Critique: Anything imperative can be universalized if we qualify it sufficiently. • Response: We must distinguish between categorical and hypothetical imperatives.

19. What people don’t like about Kant • emphasizes struggle • excludes too many who seem good • dictates state of mind as a precondition of morality • can’t handle conflicts of duty

20. Advantages of Kant’s perspective: • He emphasizes intentions. • Mind of the agent is the moral factor. • He emphasizes human dignity. • basis of modern moral understanding • promotes principles • equality & justice • impartiality & universality

21. Philosophical Questions: • What does Kant get right? • Universality of human dignity? • Imperative of respect? • Can we correct the things in his theory we don’t like while preserving the best of his insight?