Kantian Duty Ethics

1. Kantian Duty Ethics

2. Kantian Duty Ethics • Immanuel Kant • 18th century German Philosopher • David Hume • 18th century Scottish Philosopher Different views on ethics Reason only minor role Moral Rules Universal

3. Kantian Duty Ethics • Kant’s Project: • Categorical imperative (CI) • Single abstract principle • Different formulations - basic idea the same • one should treat people with respect • one should never lie • one should never commit suicide • one should never break one’s promises • etc.

4. 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: • universal applicable • exert a special force on us • concerned with more than just outcomes

5. Kantian Duty Ethics • Iran-Contra • Who is LtCol. Oliver North? • What was the Iranian initiative? • Who are the Contras and why did we supply them with arms? • What were the Constitutional paradigm? • How did this apply to Kant’s theory?

6. Kantian Duty Ethics • “Right actions are those actions done in accordance with duty” • What is the motive of duty? • How do we know which actions are right - that is , what our particular duty in a particular situation is?

7. Kantian Duty Ethics • Case Study: • Read and evaluate...

8. Kantian Duty Ethics • Well, what is moral Law?

9. Kantian Duty Ethics • How does the test work?

10. 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?

11. Kantian Duty Ethics • Do we feel that it would be irrational to do the right thing?

12. Kantian Duty Ethics • Philosophers believe Kant gives us one CI expressed in several different ways… or • Does he give us several CIs?

13. Kantian Duty Ethics • What would Kant think of Utilitarianism as a moral theory?

14. Kantian Duty Ethics • What role does Kant think consequences ought to play in moral reasoning?

15. 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?

16. 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?

17. 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?

18. 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”)?

19. Kantian Duty Ethics • Which actions would be forbidden by Kant’s moral principles: • committing suicide • preventing homosexuals from serving in the military • favoring one social group for admission to college • performing capital punishment • saving one’s own child instead of saving two other children • failing to give food to a starving person

20. Kantian Duty Ethics • Respect for Persons Case Study and Discussion

21. You are tasked with a Marine reconnaissance mission in hostile territory and allowed to select one other person to accompany you. Four highly competent candidates are located: one is an inveterate self promoter, eager for the mission to advance his career; another is a well meaning helpful type, always looking for ways to assist; third is a cynic, motivated primarily by fear of punishment and bitterness toward “the system,” while the fourth is someone who simply does what duty requires, no matter how he feels, what his private wishes are, or whether anyone else will see and reward or punish him.

22. Kantian Duty Ethics • Which individual would you choose to accompany you, to entrust your life and the welfare of this important mission to? • Why?

23. Kantian Duty Ethics • Testing the Maxims by the FUL (FLN) CI procedures

24. Kantian Duty Ethics • You are married and TAD to another location a long distance from home. Your junior married co-worker is of the opposite sex and accompanies you on this assignment. Your first dinner away, things go too far. You both regret the situation in the morning knowing it could end your careers. A week later you are back home and you are called up to see the JAG (lawyer). He reads you your rights and tells you this is just an informal investigation. The possible charge is adultery: your co-workers husband believes you took advantage of his wife while TAD but has no proof. • What do you tell the lawyer?

25. Kantian Duty Ethics • “I want to get trashed every weekend, so long as I do not get caught” • I choose to throw myself on a grenade, knowing it will cause my death but save 20 other platoon members • I choose to help someone get a false I.D.

26. Truth-TellingReading assignment: • Ethics for Military Leaders • The Absolute Prohibition of Lying • Lying, Excuses, and the burden of Proof • Operation Menu • Ethics and Moral Reasoning for Naval Leaders • Fleet Case Study: Computers page 3-3 • Fleet Case Study: To Gail Oneself page 4-3 • Fleet Case Study: The Flight Jacket page 5-3 • Fleet Case Study: Lost Documents page 6-3 • Fleet Case Study: Souvenirs page 7-3