KANTIAN ETHICS

1. KANTIAN ETHICS IN FIVE EASY (?) STEPS

2. Sandel’s Classification of Normative Ethical Theories • Core concept: maximizing happiness • Utilitarianism (morality, justice) • Core concept: protecting freedom • Libertarianism (justice) • Kant (morality) • Rawls (justice) • Core concept: promoting virtue • Aristotle (morality, justice)

3. 1. HUMAN DIGNITY • What’s so special about people (vs. animals)? • Animals are pushed around by their urges • Humans govern themselves morally • Moral self-governance = autonomy, freedom • Moral self-governance  human dignity • We have dignity even if we don’t always govern ourselves morally • We owe special respect to all who have dignity (ourselves and others)

4. Compare and contrast Utilitarians Libertarians Humans are special because of self-ownership, not because of dignity (in Kant’s sense) • Human dignity not a part of utilitarian ethics • Humans different from animals because of higher pleasures

5. 2. The Moral Law • Hypothetical imperatives (IF you want a good grade, then you should study) • Categorical imperatives (no IF, unconditional) • Kant calls the moral law “the categorical imperative” • Kant thinks there’s one categorical imperative, but it can be formulated in several ways

6. 3. The Moral Law (formula of humanity) • Never treat another person as a means only but always also as an end in himself. • Why? Because persons have dignity. APPLICATIONS May I hire someone to clean my house? May we torture the suspect’s wife in a ticking bomb case? May the rich buy teeth from the poor? May the rich buy gestation from the poor? Why is rape always wrong?

7. Compare and Contrast Utilitarians Libertarians Not concerned with dignity in Kant’s sense but with self-ownership • May use someone as a means, so long as doing so maximizes total happiness APPLICATIONS May I hire someone to clean my house? May we torture the suspect’s wife in a ticking bomb case? May the rich buy teeth from the poor? May the rich buy gestation from the poor? Why is rape always wrong?

8. 4. The moral law(formula of universalizability) • Always act on a principle that (a) everyone could follow and (b) you would want everyone to follow • Shorter: act in a way that’s universalizable • Core idea: don’t put yourself in a special category • Some similarity with Arthur’s view that morality is social

9. 4. The moral law(formula of universalizability) • Always act on a principle that (a) everyone could follow and (b) you would want everyone to follow • Shorter: act in a way that’s universalizable • Core idea: don’t put yourself in a special category APPLICATIONS The hotel mini-bar problem Over-using a handicap parking permit Lying about illness so daughter can visit grandpa The case of the inquiring murderer

10. Compare and contrast Utilitarians Libertarians Hard to compare, as libertarianism is mainly about justice, not morality • Agree that we should not put ourselves in a special category—every individual counts. • But important thing is actual consequences. • Should lie to the inquiring murderer

11. 5. What acts have moral merit? • Must have motive of duty, not just act in accordance with duty • Suppose it makes me nervous and uncomfortable to lie, so I tell the truth • No moral merit • Only thing with ultimate worth: acting with moral merit

12. Summary • Human dignity is foundation of ethics • Prime directive: the categorical imperative • Two forms: formula of humanity, formula of universalizability • Kant’s absolutism: always wrong to lie, break a promise, commit rape, commit suicide • Moral worth: you only have it when your motive is duty