Hypothetical and Categorical Imperatives:

Context of the Imperatives:

* Kant believes that morality comes from two types of imperatives that help us to \`\`fulfil our duties

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* Kant would prefer the categorical imperatives as they are based on reason which leads to logical decision making and bc it helps to fulfil purpose as a human being, it also helps us to begin to understand moral law

Hypothetical Imperatives:

* Distinguishing between moral and non moral situations

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* Rational people would discover that they only need to use ==HI for non-moral situations== bc they are able to ==recognise the relationship between actions and consequences/results==

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* Based on this they will choose the action that produces a desired end, to work out this desired end, it is ==mostly based on emotion/inclination== and its consequences

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* An example of an ethical theory ==guilty of HI is SE== bc it ==bases its actions on the most desirable income==

Categorical Imperative:

* Refers to an ^^unconditional moral obligation^^ that we are able to work out using ^^reason alone and nothing else^^

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* According to Kant, ^^moral duties should always be based on the categorical imperative^^

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* The CI is a ^^single rational principle^^ which can be summarised into three formulations of moral actions

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1. The formula of the universal law of nature
2. The formula of the end in itself
3. The formula of the kingdom of ends

Strength of CI:

* Reduces ethical ambiguity in moral dilemmas as it provides clear rules
* Encourages us to use our reason

The Formula of the Universal Law of Nature:

* This states that our ^^moral rules should be capable of being universal^^


* They should be rules that could apply to everyone regardless of the situation

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* Kant emphasises this formula bc he believes that we are ^^highly rational beings^^ and are able to ^^discover universal and absolute moral law^^

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* e.g. death penalty, ^^if we allow animals to be executed^^, then according to the FULN, we should ^^allow everyone to be able to kill each other^^

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* This breaks the FULN as if everyone is killed, there would be no one left in the world, and ^^no one to use reason and fulfil duty^^

View on moral law:

* Kant believes that there is a universal and objective moral law that is discoverable though reason
* When working out duty, we are discovering moral law

The Formula of the end in itself:

* A rational person would always @@treat humanity as an end in themselves@@ and @@never@@ as @@a means to an end@@

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* In this way Kant ensures that we are @@encouraging people to treat everyone as equals@@ and are @@not using people to achieve moral law@@

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* e.g. in the example of business ethics, buying the cheapest clothes possible made by sweatshops is, according to Kant, not rational

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* It is not reasonable to use people as a means to an end bc it is not rational to not appreciate that everyone and deserves the same respect by virtue of being human

The Formula of the kingdom of ends:

* Rational people would always act as a law making member of a kingdom of ends

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* Everything a rational person does must set an example worthy of being followed by other people

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* People should always act as though their behaviours could be law in an ideal society of rational people

General strengths of Kantian Ethics:

__Reason:__

* Kantian ethics relies on reason, since the enlightenment era, reason is seen as more favourable than following tradition as it is believed to lead to better decision making

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__Easy:__

* Arguably very easy to apply due to its absolute and deontological nature, making it clear and useful to follow in times of ethical ambiguity

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__Practical:__

* Its practical as the categorical imperative provides a comprehensive guideline on how to decipher our duties solely by using reason as opposed to our fleeting emotions or selfish inclinations

Weakness of KE - Augustine:

* Due to Augustine’s pessimistic viewpoint of human nature, he would argue that a result of existing in a postlapsarian world, original sin clouds our judgement.
* Therefore we are unable to make completely rational decisions as we are inherently flawed human beings

Weakness of KE - Hegel - Internal conflicts:

* Hegel argues that Kantian ethics can not be a supreme principle of morality bc humans have internal conflicts

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* He believes that it is unnatural to always have clear sound and rational judgement in moral dilemmas as he finds that it is within human nature to act based on our desires and pleasures
* We would be unable to follow our duty

Weakness of KE - Hegel - No reason:

* Kant’s ethics does not give humans any legitimate reason to be moral
* The Categorical Imperatives are impractical and do not hold any meaning as they do not give any genuine reason as to why we should apply the formulas to our lives
* Additionally, Kant does not elaborate the purpose of following our duty

Weakness of KE - Hegel - CI does not make sense:

* The Categorical Imperatives do not make sense and goes against itself
* For example, if everyone helped the poor, there would be no poor ppl to help so beneficence would be impossible if universalised, making it immoral according to Kant’s model

Weakness of KE - Bentham:

* Humans are sentient beings and their desires should be taken into consideration when making moral decisions

Weakness of KE - John Stuart Mill:

* The utilitarian principle - Greatest good for the greatest number
* Mill argued that Kant’s ethics could not explain why certain actions are wrong w/o appealing to utilitarianism