Kantianism Notes

Kantianism

Overview

  • Developed by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804).
  • Deontological moral theory.
  • Focuses on actions and agents having inherent or absolute value.

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify Kantianism as a deontological ethical theory.
  • List the two main features of morality for Kant.
  • Define moral personhood and explain its significance.
  • Define autonomy and explain the major justifications for its limitation.
  • Define Categorical Imperative and state its two main versions or formulations.
  • Apply the categorical imperative to problematic situations in the healthcare setting.

Two Main Features of Morality

  • Kant believed morality:
    • Is a system of laws (similar to the laws of physics).
    • Moral laws are universal.
    • Concerns the treatment of persons.

Moral Personhood

  • A central concept in Kantianism.
  • Not the same as being human or alive.
  • It is a status beings can possess (some views consider certain animals as persons).
  • A person has an inherent value that must be respected.
  • This value imposes limits on what others can do to a person, but also on what the person can do to themselves.
  • Utilitarianism lacks the concept of Moral Personhood.

Moral Personhood and Autonomy

  • Kant bases personhood in autonomy.
  • A being has autonomy if they have the capacity for self-determination.
  • Self-determination refers to the capacity to direct one's own life or envision oneself across time.
  • Kant believed animals did not possess this ability.
  • Thus, unlike Mill, Kant did not believe the treatment of animals was strictly a moral or ethical issue.
  • Some modern moral theorists disagree with Kant's view on animals.

Autonomy and Its Limits

  • The ability to direct our lives is commonly believed to have limits.
  • Different justifications for limiting autonomy:
    • Legal Moralism: Restricting autonomy is permissible when a person is going to do something immoral (e.g., infidelity).
    • Paternalism: Restricting autonomy is permissible to benefit a person or protect them from harm (e.g., seatbelt laws).
    • Mill argued against paternalism on the grounds of collective happiness.
    • Harm Principle: Restricting autonomy is permissible when a person's actions are harmful to others (e.g., shouting fire in a crowded theater).

Categorical Imperative

  • The principle Kant advises us to use to resolve problematic situations (similar to Mill's principle of Utility).
  • Two primary versions or formulations:
    • Universality: "Can what I am doing become a universal law?" An action is right if it is possible for everyone to act as I do. (Consider lying.)
    • Respect for Persons: "Does what I am doing treat the persons involved with respect?" Am I acknowledging the inherent dignity and value of the persons involved? (Consider lying.)

Application

  • Consider the following healthcare issues in light of Kantianism:
    • Embryonic stem cell research
    • Healthcare distribution