Immanuel Kant

What is a deontological ethical system?

based on duty or obligation

What is the Good Will according to Kant?

will of rational being = desire to follow moral law

What did Kant mean by “Unless a good will is present, happiness is not worthy of that person”?

“morality is not the doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness”

moral law

For what reason did Kant say that moral worth is not in the purpose of an action?

intention behind act = egotistical

What is the only thing that gives an action moral worth in Kantian Ethics?

Good Will

What does Kant call “necessity of an action out of respect for the law”? What does this mean?

Duty - “moral motive is not from what we want other than a desire to respect the moral law”

what the moral law commands, you do it

Did Kant think that effects, results or consequences has moral worth? Why or why not?

no, they aren’t part of the moral decision making process

Explain the features of & importance of the categorical imperative in Kant’s theory

universal absolutely necessary & command statement

must be done immediately

What is Kant’s principal of universality?

first formulation

good for one = good for all without exception

What is the First Formulation of the Categorical Imperative? What does it mean?

“act only in accordance w/ that maximum through which you can @ the same time will that it become universal law”

applies to everyone

For Kant to be moral is to be ___

rational

For Kant, to be immoral is to be ___

irrational

What is the Second Formulation of the Categorical Imperative? What does it mean?

existence of which has absolute worth, an end in itself = never as a means

don’t use people

According to Kant, what is a person?

rational being = intrinsic value

Kant found something that always has inherent worth, what is it?

respects for persons/rational being

What do Hume & Kant have in common with respect to their ethical theories?

loos @ human nature