Ethics of Duty Example: Kantianism

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Ethics of DutyExample Kantianism

• Introduction to Philosophy
• Spring 2007

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Utilitarianism Problems

• Maximizing happiness might require performing
  immoral actions.
• E.g.. Could said three lives by taking one.
• Utilitarianism does not explain why we should
  respect peoples rights.
• Utilitarianism does not support keeping promises,
  unless it will support the general happiness.
• Utilitarianism seems to be too demanding.

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Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

• Sought to establish all philosophy on a rational
  ground.
• Believed that what is right and wrong could be
  determined by reason.
• Reason dictates a basic, unconditional
  imperative, that applies to all rational beings.
  (Kant called this the categorical imperative.)

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The Categorical ImperativeTwo formulations.

• The Universal Law Formulation Always act on
  those maxims that you could at the same time
  (rationally) will to become a universal law (of
  nature).
• Application You are thinking of cheating on your
  exam. Could you will a world in which everyone
  cheated? No. Because if everyone cheated, then
  the exams would not be taken seriously and you
  would not achieve what you are seeking in
  cheating.
• Kant argued that it is never right to lie.
• Basic idea If you have a reason that makes it
  rational for you to do something, then that same
  reason would make it rational for any human being
  to do the same thing. If you could not
  rationally will for everyone to do it, then it
  must not really be rational for you to perform
  that action.

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The Categorical ImperativeTwo formulations.

• The End-in-themselves Formulation Always treat
  rational beings (other persons) as
  ends-in-themselves, and never merely as a means.
  
• Application You are thinking of cheating on your
  exam. But to cheat on an exam is to manipulate
  your instructor into giving you a grade you do
  not deserve. You are simply using them to get a
  good grade.
• Basic idea Humans beings have inherent worth or
  dignity and should be treated with respect due to
  their status as rational beings. To be a
  rational being is to have the capacity to make
  autonomous, rational decisions. Lying, killing,
  cheating, injuring, manipulating, etc., others in
  order to achieve you own goals is to treat them
  as things to be used and to bypass their own
  freedom and right to set their own rational goals.

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Influential Theories of Ethics

• Divine Command Ethics
• Based on Gods Commands
• Rooted in religious traditions
• Utilitarianism
• Based on weighing consequences
• Attractive to empiricists because you look and
  see.
• Kantianism
• Based on reason.
• Grounds such things as rights, duties, etc.

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Influential Theories of Ethics

• Divine Command Ethics
• Utilitarianism
• Kantianism
• Natural Rights Theory
• Humans have basic natural rights that are
  rationally self-evident. (Similar to Kantianism)
• Natural Law Theory
• There are basic moral values that can be derived
  from human nature. (Influential in Roman
  Catholic thought)
• Virtue Ethics
• The focus of ethics should not be on right and
  wrong actions, but on character, on virtues and
  vices, good and bad character traits. Not What
  is right and wrong? but What kind of person am
  I?