Kant's Deontological Ethics

Deontological Theory

In determining which course of action is right, one can’t just weigh the overall values that would be produced in each possible outcome; one must also consider the paths that must be traversed to reach these ends

• Deontological theories deny the consequentialist claim that the rightness of an action is solely a function of the outcome produced

Kant’s Deontological Ethics is focused on

• Duty and motives

• The Categorical Imperative

What does Categorical Imperative mean?

absolute commands

Version 1 of the Categorical Imperative

One’s maxim of action must be universalizable

• maxim of action is a description of what you’re doing

Version 2 of the Categorical Imperative

Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or the person of aother, always and at the same time as an end and never simply as a means —> DON’T USE PEOPLE

• recognize people are people

• Ex: slavery, how the Nazis treated the Jews

Pros

• Version 2 is self-evident

• emphasis on motives

  • actions with good motives = good, even if bad consequences result

  • actions with good consequences but bad motives = bad

  • actions with no consequences but bad motives = still bad

Cons

• never confident about his position (thought is opaque)

• there can be counterexamples to Version 2

• leads to worshipping rules

• his account is too abstract and not adequately attentive to content