Rachels Ch. 9-10

Humans are rational and autonomous
Human beings and their desires are the most important thing
Categorical imperative - something you MUST follow out of moral obligation; moral law is binding

Thought religion and morality should be kept apart by using reason
Look to religion for morality = open to interpretation/variable
Thought morals were a constant
Hypothetical imperatives - about prudence, not morality
- e.g. study for a test to get an A
Categorical imperatives - commands you must follow, regardless of desires; derived from pure reason
- Understood via formulations
- Universalizability principle
  - General rule that stands behind particular actions
  - If you do it, everyone should do it
  - Contradiction: bad actions are not universalizable
  - A moral act should be universalized (everyone should do it all the time)
  - Because of one’s actions, something bad happened, so one is responsible
- You should not use humans for mere means (humans are our own ends, humans exist for themselves)
  - We deserve not to be used for mere means
  - Absolute moral worth: we shouldn’t be manipulated or impeded to autonomously make decisions
Focus on intent
Humans should follow rationality

Act Utilitarianism - greatest good for greatest number of people
Rule Utilitarianism - we ought to live by rules that are likely to lead to ^
- Refrain from behaving in situations that result in good for the short term, more so the majority of all time
Focus on result