Immanuel Kant

1
Immanuel Kant

• 1724-1804

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Early Life

• Konigsberg, Prussia
• Baptized Emanuel
• Humble beginnings
• Pietist Household Devout Education

3
Immanuel Kant

• 1724-1804

4
Early Life

• Konigsberg, Prussia
• Baptized Emanuel
• Humble beginnings
• Pietist Household Devout Education

5
Scholarly Life

• Tutor, Lecturer, Professor
• Interested in Newtonian Principles
• Published 30 works
• Critique of Pure Reason
• Critique of Practical Reason
• Critique of Judgment
• Socially Inept

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Terms

• Deontology- The study of duty
• Maxim- A principle or rule of conduct

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Kant Ethics

• His most influential subject
• The motive, not outcome, is the sole creator or
  moral worth in an action
• Categorical Imperative- Act only according to
  that maxim by which you can at the same time will
  that it should become a universal law

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Reason Freedom

• We are not wholly subject to causal law
• Reason cannot act without assumption of Freedom

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Human Situation

• Animals, Humans, Rational Beings
• Actors, not Acted Upon
• We cannot know which action is best
• Ends-in-Themselves Means-to-Ends

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Will

• Outcome of our actions is beyond our control
• Morality assessed by motivation
• Good will cannot be used for evil
• Goodness cannot arise from instinct
• No outcome can be inherently good
• Duty must drive our actions

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Duty

• Hypothetical imperative
• Categorical Imperative for moral action
• Act only according to that maxim by which you
  can the same time will that it should become a
  universal law.
• Universality test
• Nature cannot contradict itself
• Everyone thinks of themselves the way you do,
  therefore your maxim must be applicable for all
  people

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Kant in Debates

• Deontology- The actions morality is determined
  by its means
• Teleology- The actions morality is determined by
  its end