kant key terms

The Will

ability to make choices and decisions, rational, choices on the basis of reason

Good Will

motivated by duty, chosen in accordance with reason, only thing morally good without qualification

Formula of Humanity

categorical imperative, treat humanity never simply as means, always at the same time as an end

means

done to achieve an end. instrumental means- actions achieve some further, independent end. constitutive means- done as achieving the end eg relaxing on holiday

categorical imperative

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

contradiction in conception

the test for whether we can will a maxim to become universal law can be failed if it was somehow self-contradictory for everyone to act on that maxim

contradiction in will

the test for whether we can will a maxim to be on universal law can be failed if, although the maxim is not self-contradictory, we cannot rationally will it

deontology

the study of what we must do. deontology claims that actions are right or wrong in themselves, not depending on their consequences. we have moral duties to do things which it is right to do and moral.

imperative

a command or order. a hypothetical imperative- statement ought to do, assumption (desire or goal), eg if you want to pass your exam, you ought to study hard. a categorical imperative- statement ought to do, without regard to what you want

intention

a mental state that expresses a person’s choice. it specifies the action they chose and often their reason or end in acting.

maxim

personal principle, guides decisions eg to get a good education

motive

mental state or consideration, inclines someone to act in a certain way. reason for acting, end or desire.

universalise

applies to everything/everyone all the time

universalisable but wrong

any action can be justifiable, as long as we phrase the maxim carefully eg I steal money only when my situation is bad. This is wrong.

reply to universalisable but wrong

that maxim isnt wrong
test what the maxim really is

not universalisable but right

eg ‘I shall never sell, but only buy’ - is this wrong?

Foot’s non-hypothetical imperative

we use ‘should’ and ‘ought’ in a non-hypothetical way eg rules of a club or etiquette but no reason to do it (if you don’t like the rules, don’t join the club)
immorality isn’t irrational, it is only irrational to act in a way the defeats your own purposes

conflicts between duties

can less important duties give way to more important ones? but this isn’t categorical.

consequences matter

eg killing on to save the many, because a consequence of death is wrong

the value of certain motives

is it right to do something good because you want to? eg visiting friend in hospital only because of duty

2 replies to Foot and her response

1. If not categorical, doing what is right ‘because it is right’ no longer gives us a reason to act. Foot’s response- Kant is mistaken about motive of duty being only morally good motive.

2. undermines morality? what about amoralists?