Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals

KANT'S GROUNDWORK OF THE METAPHYSICS OF MORALS

APPROACHES TO KANT

  • Define Good Will

  • Articulate Principles (Agent Centered, Respect)

  • Distinguish Instrumental vs. Intrinsic Value

  • Discuss The Imperatives

RESPECT

  • Definition: View others as having status

  • Status relates to value independent of use or consequences

  • Manifested through attitudes but not strictly behaviors

VALUE

  • Valuable things include talents, gifts, and virtues

  • Kant asserts nothing is good without qualification; only good when serving a higher purpose

MEANS/END DISTINCTION

  • Ends: Goals; Means: Methods to achieve goals

  • Value derived from purpose (ends) determines value of means

  • Not all goals are equally valuable; some manifestly evil

VALUING A THING

  • Normative distinction: value attributed based on external vs. intrinsic qualities

  • External: relational uses; Intrinsic: inherent qualities

  • Instrumental value vs. intrinsic value (e.g., education vs. tools)

FEAR AND RESPECT

  • Fear involves regarding others as threats; behaviors are self-interested

  • Changing context reveals true value attributed to others

INTRINSIC VALUE OF PERSONS

  • Persons set ends and thus hold intrinsic value

  • Free will is fundamental to personhood and moral respect

HUMAN WILL

  • Two types of volitions:

    • Inclinations (phenomenal realm)

    • Reason (realm of will/understanding)

MAXIMS

  • Subjective rules of conduct based on personal intentions

  • Properly formulated maxims include aims, means, and circumstances

THE GOOD WILL

  • A will free from external influences, guided by reason

  • The Good Will is autonomous and reflects rationality

IMPERATIVES

  • Distinction between acting from duty vs. acting in accordance with duty

  • Imperatives are maxims recognized as laws, guiding moral behavior

DUTY

  • Defined as necessity to act per the Moral Law

  • Duty has an absolute quality; rationalizations for failure are inadequate

THE GOOD AND THE RIGHTEOUS

  • The Good: actions based on feelings; The Righteous: actions based on moral laws

TYPES OF IMPERATIVES

  • Hypothetical: Conditional duties

  • Categorical: Unconditional duties; Only one Categorical Imperative exists

ORDERING THE WILL

  • Human will influenced by inclinations and reason

  • Maxims represent personal principles, while imperatives represent objective laws

THREE FORMULATIONS OF THE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE

  • Universal Law Formulation: Act only if maxim can become universal law

  • Ends Formulation: Treat humanity always as an end, never merely as a means

  • Kingdom of Ends Formulation: View oneself and others as members of a moral community

LYING

  • Universally, lying treats oneself as exempt from moral laws

  • Under Means/End, lying manipulates others and disregards their dignity

  • In Kingdom of Ends, lying denies others full membership in the moral community