deontology

what is the focus of deontology?

an acts claim of being right or wrong is focused on the intent

what does Kant believe

we all have an innate sense of right or wrong

kants quote

“two things fill the mind with awe… the starry heavens above and the moral law within”

what are the main beliefs of duty based ethics

• reason governs morality

• doing the right thing is our duty

• doing the wrong thing is irrational and immoral

what is the hypothetical imperative

you ought to do something if you want something else

what is the categorical imperative

unconditional commands that don’t rely on consequences

when are you morally blameworthy

when you do not follow the categorical imperative

what are the 3 principles

• the universal law

• humans as an ends not a means

• a kingdom of ends

what does the universal law clarify

“act only in accordance with the maxim which at the same time you can will it to be a universal law”

• universability test

what does humans as a means not an ends clarify

“so, act as to treat humanity, as an end, never simply as a means”
- a human being is the most important factor in any moral deliberation

what does a kingdom of ends clarify

“act according to the maxims of a member of a merely possible kingdom of ends legalising it universally.”

• utopia where everyone has the same moral vision

• how society would be if everyone followed his ethics

what is a perfect duty

universalisation is logical. we must always do them

what is an imperfect duty

no logical contradiction in universalising, yet we would not wish it to be universalised

what is a prima facie duty

we can instantly recognise them with our intuition

we make our own judgment on how to act according to them

what are the 7 duties

• promise keeping

• reparation

• gratitude

• justice

• beneficience

• self-improvement

• non-maleficence

what happens if 2 duties conflict

neither should be ignored but you should prioritise the more important one

what is a weakness of wd ross

many people believe in individualism and reject duties

what is a strength of wd ross

allows for partial treatment towards family through recognising we have a duty towards them

what are agent relative reasons

reason for a certain person to do something

what are agent neutral reasons

reasons that apply to everyone to do something

how can we apply deontology to the treatment of animals

“he who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with me”

not rational beings so we can treat them as a means to an end

how can we apply deontology to war

killing is against the categorical imperative

what is a strength of deontology

• more just to judge someone on their intent

• protects humans from being used

what is a weakness of deontology

• not practical to act according to duty alone

• does not allow compassion or sympathy to motivate actions

• commits the naturalistic fallacy