PHIL 111: Module 4

Ethics

Involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior

• Character: what person I ought to become

• Hollistic

Morality

• Custom: What type of actions in particularly are right or wrong?

• Action

Meta-ethics

Investigates our moral principles and concepts

Normative ethics

Determining standards for right conduct

• Norms

Deontology

Duty-Based Ethics

• Moral duty is the central principle

Consequenialism

• Any moral theory that the consequences of our actions play a central role in our evaluation of moral conduct

  • EX: Utilitarianism

Non-Consequatialism

• The consequences are seen as morally irrelevant

  • Kant

What is good without limitation?

• Fame?

  • NOPE, famous school shooters

• Money?

  • NOPE, criminals trying to get money

• Pleasure?

  • NOPE, not wanting to go to class for the pleasure of sleeping in

• Compassion?

  • NOPE, scholarships and tax-breaks used

• Justice?

  • NOPE, segregation laws —> But the law wasn’t just?

The Good Will, Kant

• The desire to do good

• Even if you are unavailable/make a mistake, the intention is still good

  • “A species of causality in living beings insofar as they are rational”

    • Actions in conformity with reasons

    • Autonomous (Free)

    • The Good Will is a response to Rational DutyIm

Imperative

A command

• All imperatives are expressed by an “ought”

• 2 types of Imperatives:

  • A hypothetical Imperative

    • Problematic Practical Principle (for some purpose)

      • “If then situtations”, in order to , you have to __

    • Assertoric Practical Principle (for something actual)

      • “Get ready for bed, brush your teeth”

Categorical Imperatives, moral

• An action as objectively necessary, an apodictic practical principle

• This is the imperative of morality

Rational = Non-contradictory

Contradiction = to affirm and deny any X simultaneously

• A categorical imperative is a command to act that is universally obligatory for all human actions in all circumstances and cannot be contradictory

The Categorical Imperative- 5 formula

• The formula of the Natural Law (The Principle of Universalizability)**

  • “Act only on the maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law”

    • EX: “Lie to your wife if it makes her happy” —> Contradiction

      • Telling the truth is a universal categorical imperative

• The formula of the End in itself (The Principle of Humanity)**

  • “Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an end”

    • Don’t use people

      • EX: Consider other human beings on themselves and not their value; Soldiers aren’t treated simply as a means —> We retrieve their bodies

Perfect Duties

We have a perfect duty not to act by maxims that result in logical contradictions when we attempt to universalize them

• ex: stealing

Imperfect duties

The duty to act only by maxims that we would desire to be universalized. This duty is not as strong as a perfect unity, but is morally binding, because it ultimately depends upon subjective preferences— and these change with regard to culture, time, place

• EX; giving

Problems with Kant’s Deontology

• Are we really free to act?

  • Freedom

• Is reason sufficient to motivate actions?

  • Autonomy

• What is we are inherently egoistic? If so, could the good will really be possible?

  • Psychology

• But don’t the consequences matter?

  • Nazi Officer, hiding jews in your barn —> officer asks, but Kant says u have to be honest —> problematic?

• Friendship and Partiality

  • Moral Intuition

• The problem of moral luck

  • Moral Judgements appear arbitrary

Kant's first form of the categorical imperative is derived from the idea that moral obligation as universally binding. (T/F)

True

The reason why it is wrong to make a lying promise, according to Kant, is because this act cannot be willed as a general practice without contradiction. (T/F)

True

"Act only on that maxim you can will to become universal law" is known as which form of Kant's categorical imperative?

First

Hypothetical imperatives are

Like suggesting we should use what works to arrive at a goal.

Which of the following best paraphrases Kant's second form of the categorical imperative?

Don't use people unless it is in their best interest.