Kant's Categorical Imperative

Categorical Imperative

are concerned with the morality and intent of an action

Hypothetical Imperative

are not concerned with the morality or intent of an action, only in reaching a goal

Immanuel Kant

He defines categorical imperatives as commands or moral laws all persons must follow, regardless of their desires or extenuating circumstances.

Principle of Universality

one should "act only in accordance with the maxim through which you can at the same time will that it become a universal law.”

Principle of Universality

In lay terms, this simply means that if you do an action, then everyone else should also be able to do it.

Kant

For ____, morality is not defined by the consequences of our actions, our emotions, or an external factor. Morality is defined by duties and one’s action is moral if it is an act motivated by duty.

Formula of Universal Law

act only according to that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it become a universal law

Formula of Humanity

So act that you use humanity, in your own person as well as in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end, never merely as a means.

Formula of Kingdom of Ends

every rational being must so act as if he were through his maxim always a lawmaking member in the universal kingdom of ends

Hedonism

is a type of consequentialism, and has several forms.

Normative Hedonism

the idea that pleasure should be people’s primary motivation

Motivational Hedonism

says that only pleasure and pain cause people to do what they do

Egotistical Hedonism

requires a person to consider only his or her own pleasure in making choices

Altruistic Hedonism

the creation of pleasure for all people is the best way to measure if an action is ethical

Hedonism

critics fault it as a guide for morality because it ignores all other values, such as freedom or fairness, when evaluating right and wrong

Utilitarianism

is generally held to be the view that the morally right action is the action that produces the most good

Jeremy Bentham

the father of Utilitarianism

The Principle of Utility

is an action that is commended or condemned according to whether it produces benefit, advantage, pleasure, good or happiness or prevents mischief, pain or unhappiness

Bentham

stated that “We should act always so as to produce the greatest good for the greatest number”

The Concept of Justice

“Giving others what is due”

justice, equality

_____ is always associated with fairness, and
fairness is associated with _____

Theory of Justice and Fairness

describes a society of free citizens holding equal basic rights and cooperating within an egalitarian economic system

Tax

is the lifeblood of a country

Taxes

the enforced proportional contribution, generally payable by money, levied by the law-making body of the state by virtue of its sovereignty upon the persons of property within its jurisdiction for the support of the government and all public needs.

Co Untian (2009)

defines taxes as “the inherent power by which the sovereign state imposes financial burden upon persons and property as a means of raising revenue to defray the necessary expenses of the government.

Tax Evasion

is the illegal practice of not paying taxes, by not reporting income, reporting expenses not legally allowed, or by not paying taxes owed.

Tax Avoidance

is the process whereby an individual uses tax planning so as to apply all exemptions and deductions provided by tax laws to reduce taxable income.