Chapter 6: Problems with Utility and Kant's Deontology

Flashcards covering problems with utility, consequentialist vs. non-consequentialist theories, natural law, the Stoics, Thomas Aquinas, and Immanuel Kant's deontology, including his Categorical Imperative and Kingdom of Ends, along with criticisms.

The problem with Utility is that it ignores or at least does not do full justice to the highly __ character of duty.

personal

According to W. D. Ross, if the only duty is to produce the maximum of good, the question is __?

who is to have the good

A __ moral theory holds that an action is right or wrong based on the consequences of the action in light of other possible consequences.

Consequentialist

A __ moral theory states that some actions are inherently wrong regardless of the consequences.

Non-Consequentialist

From a Consequentialist perspective, abortion is permissible if the mother’s health is at risk, or the pregnancy is the result of __. (rape or incest)

rape or incest

From a Non-Consequentialist perspective, taking a human life is wrong under __ circumstance.

any

Modern deontologists agree that moral consequences are important, but they shouldn’t be the only, or even primary, factor in making a __ decision.

moral

Deontological moral theories are __ theories.

non-consequentialist

The term 'deontology' comes from the Greek 'deont-', meaning 'being needed or necessary', and '-logy', meaning _.

the study of

Natural Law Theory claims that God commands something __ it is right, implying it is independent of God’s will.

because

According to Natural Law Theory, God’s commands DO NOT make something right or wrong, but God prohibits or permits it because it is either __ or wrong.

morally right

Natural Law Theory suggests that even if there is no God, the same thing would be __ right or wrong.

morally

The Stoics claimed that __ should be our guide when determining if something was morally right or wrong.

nature

The Stoics felt that certain moral values and rules of conduct are built into __.

nature

The Stoics believed everything that existed and occurred was the product of __ intelligence.

an intelligent designer

According to the Stoics, some laws of nature are __ and thus impossible to violate them.

irresistible

The Stoics believed all creatures and things on this planet must live by their nature, thus having a proper _.

function

Thomas Aquinas incorporated the idea of Natural Law into Catholic theology and moral thinking as an attempt to solve the __ problem.

DCT

__ argues that God created each thing with its own proper ends and inclinations to perform its own proper acts.

Aquinas

Aquinas also incorporates Aristotle’s __ ethics into his Natural Law solution.

virtue

Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, is known for his ethical philosophy based on _.

duty

Kant’s most noted moral works include Critique of Pure Reason, Critique of Practical Reason, and __.

The Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals

Kant was responding to ethical moral sense theorists such as __ who believed morality is simply a sense inherent in human beings.

David Hume

Kant believed the source of moral duty needed to stand __ of human nature to hold true for all rational beings.

outside

Kant stands opposed to Mill by not locating the source of morality in humanity and not considering the __ of actions.

consequences

For Kant, a __ is the only truly good thing, because everything else (like intelligence, charisma, wealth) can be used for bad.

good will

Kant argued that reason is meant to control the __, not pursue happiness.

will

To be moral and do our moral duty, we must do things not because we are inclined to or desire consequences, but solely out of __.

duty

Acting on inclination is not moral duty because it would be merely an __ of nature, and moral law cannot be derived from human nature.

instinct

Acting on desired consequences is not moral duty because we could choose other __ to achieve the ends we desire.

means

To act morally, one must act on __, not on inclination or desired consequences.

duty

Kant's Categorical Imperative states: "Act only on that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it would become a __ law."

universal

Kant's first example of the Categorical Imperative concerns __: if it were a universal law, trust would be destroyed, making it ineffective.

lying

A universal law about making lying promises destroys itself because it is __ and thus cannot be a universal moral law.

contradictory

We take inclination out of morality, meaning we no longer do what is moral just because we __ like it.

feel

Kant's Second Formulation of the Categorical Imperative states: "Act to treat humanity, in your own person or that of any other, in every case as an __ and never as a means only."

end

The Second Formulation reminds us of the __.

Golden Rule

Treating others how we want to be treated is also known as common sense morality or __ altruism.

reciprocal

In the Groundwork for the Metaphysics, Kant states that rational beings exist as an __ for themselves, not merely as a means to an end used by others.

end

To be "treated as an end" means acknowledging others' inherent worth and __.

rationality

For Kant, Rand, and Aristotle, human beings are __ for themselves, meaning tools for their own happiness.

ends

When a person is used as a means to an end, their intrinsic __ and dignity are disregarded.

value

Human history has examples of even rational beings being used for an end, being thought of as __.

things

The question arises: what constitutes something as being an __ in itself?

end

Kant wants to classify what is or isn’t part of the moral universe based on the __ of the thing.

rationality

Kant's philosophy prompts us to consider the moral status of beings like children, thinking animals, and __.

AI

For Kant, moral autonomy means the only authority that can tell us what to do or not to do is our own __.

reason

If all rational beings disregard personal inclinations and follow the same good rules (CI's), everyone will have universalized their intentions, leading to a new realm called the __ of Ends.

Kingdom

The "Kingdom of Ends" is a community where people treat each other as __ only, recognizing each other's own goals in life.

ends

One criticism of Kant's ethics is that __ count, and knowing to do something means knowing the outcome of action consequences.

consequences

Another criticism of Kant's ethics is the problem of __ between duties.

conflict

A criticism of Kantian ethics asks: what if there are two __ categorical imperatives, which takes precedent?

conflicting

The criticism "Action vs. Knowledge" suggests that knowing isn't enough; __ matters.

action