Topic 3a + 3b: The Supreme Moral Principle + The Good Will

Deontology

The right action is defined in terms of following one’s duties rather than maximizing good consequences

(Solves problem with maximizing happiness in utilitarianism by not looking at consequences)

The good will

The will of a person who is good

• a good person is a person who does the right thing with the right motivation

Kant’s Ethics: Reason

He argues that moral motivation has to do with our reasons for action

• the key to morality according to Kant rests in our autonomy, our nature as rational self governing free agents

Good without qualification (and the 3 things about good will that makes it so)

Kant argues that good will is the only thing that can be called good without qualification

• the good will has intrinsic value

• The good will is not good because of what it can do

• The good will is good in itself

The good will is inherently good as it does not aim to do bad things

Motivators of the good will

The good will is unconditionally good because of the nature of the good will

• the good will is good because it is motivated by the idea of duty (duty: our moral obligations)

• The good will is motivated by morality

The motive of duty

A person motivated by duty will do the right thing regardless of circumstance

• it is only when we act for the sake of duty that out action has moral worth

Misconception about the motive of duty

People think Kant believes that moral action is cold and distant → we should not feel good about doing the right thing (self-interest)

But really, Kant’s point is that one of our motives must be the motive of duty if out action is to have moral worth

• we can still be sympathetic and feel good from doing the right thing, as long as it’s not the only thing motivating us