RS a level ETHICS - kantian ethics

key terms and criticisms

What is Kant’s second formulation of the categorical imperative

“respect for persons”

What is Kant’s first formulation of the categorical imperative

formula of the law of nature: maxims should only be acted on if they can be willed to become universal law

considers contradictions of the will and contradiction in conception

What does Kant emphasise as important when making an ethical decision

duty

What does Kant teach about the value of people

people should always be respected and never used as a means; only seen as an end

what is deontological ethics

concerned with the ethical nature of the acts themselves

what is duty

acting in a morally good way regardless of the consequences

how do all moral concepts originate, according to kant

a priori synthetic

does Kant use reason or empiricism to find moral truths?

both

Kant quote on the importance of reason and morality

“life without reason and morality has no value”

did Kant believe moral law was objective or subjective

objective

what does summum bonum mean

the greatest good

why does reason come over pleasure

if morality is driven by pleasure then we end up giving in to our animalistic desires

does Kant believe humans have free will

yes

how does Kant describe a man of “good will”

the man who acts solely in accordance with “duty for duty’s sake”

Kant quote supporting the deontological approach

“it [an action] is good in itself”

what is the hypothetical imperative

a command to act to achieve a desired result

why is the hypothetical imperative not a moral imperative

achieving a desired result is not a moral duty

what is the categorical imperative

a command to act for duty regardless of the consequences. This is a moral requirement

what are the three formulations of the categorical imperative (in order)

formula of the law of nature

formula of the end in itself

formula of the kingdom of ends

what is a postulate

something that is assumed to be true, that is accepted in obeying a moral command

what are the three postulates in Kantian ethics

free will to pursue the summum bonum, God, immortality

how does Schopenhauer criticize Kant

Kant’s theory is impractical in an imperfect world

how does Hegel criticize Kant

Kantian ethics forces humans into an “internal conflict” between reason and desire

which example does Constance present in criticism for Kant

lying to the murderer

3 strengths of Kantian ethics

applies equally to everyone which prevents injustice

gives humans intrinsic worth which prohibits them from being enslaved or exploited

overrules cultural disharmony

what does Kant mean by ‘a kingdom of ends’ (3rd formulation CI)?

a society of rationality in which people treat each other as ends rather than means

quote from Kant on good will

“good will shines like a precious jewel”

quote from Kant on the categorical imperative in ‘Groundwork of Metaphysics and Morals’

“if the action is represented as good in itself, in accordance with reason, then the imperative is categorical”

4 examples of duties listed by Kant

the right to private property and ownership

not to commit suicide

not to make false promises

to pursue the greater good, not one’s own happiness

why did Kant believe ethics should be based on reason

overrides cultural and religious differences in morality, which would create a harmonious society

why are each of the 3 postulates assumed to be true

no moral responsibility without free will

an afterlife where moral people achieve the summum bonum must be achievable because these people are often not rewarded on earth

reason tells us there is an objective ethical duty, which must be God-created

2 examples of hypothetical imperatives

if you want to be trusted, you should always tell the truth

if you want to become rich, you should steal whenever you can get away with it

why can’t hypothetical imperatives be universal

because they are conditional, and cannot be accessed by reason but desires

how does Kant discover the categorical imperative

through reason

suggests the three formulations are solely, reliably discerned through reason