Chapter 5: Kant

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Chapter 5 Kants Moral Theory

• Historical Background
• Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
• What ought I do?
• What Gives an Act Moral Worth?
• - The Consequences of our acts are not always
  in our control.
• - Our motives are in our control.
• To have moral value.
• One must act out of the right motive
• One must also do the right thing.

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Chapter 5 continued

• What is the Right Motive?
• The example of the shopkeeper
• What is the Right Thing to Do?
• Hypothetical vs. categorical imperatives
• Moral obligations are universal and necessary

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Chapter 5 continued

• Hyperthetical imperatives vs Categorical
  Imperatives
• Moral oughts vs Moral obligation
• Categorical imperatives
• - The first form universalizing ones
  contemplated action or policy
• - The second form the proper treatment of
  persons as persons

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• Evaluating Kants Moral Theory
• Moral obligation is real and strictly binding
• Categorical imperative is a negative test for
  what we should not do, rather than what we should
  do
• Duty whatever is the right thing to do
• Moral obligation is universally binding.

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• Perfect and Imperfect Duties
• Perfect duties
• - necessary duties
• - absolute
• Imperfect duties
• - meritorious duties
• - more flexible

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Chapter 5 continued

• Variations on Kantian Moral Theory
• W.D. Ross and prima facie duties
• John Rawls and justice as fairness

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Chapter 5 continued

• Reading Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic
  of Morals
• A Good Will is foundational for all other good
• Actions as duty requires, not because duty
  requires
• Duty as the necessity of an action done out of
  respect for the law
• The Categorical Imperative first formulation
• Hypothetical vs. categorical imperatives

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Chapter 5 continued

• There is one categorical imperative Act only
  on that maxim whereby thou canst at the same time
  will that it should become a universal law.
• The imperative of duty Act as if the maxim of
  thy action were to become by thy will a Universal
  Law of Nature.
• Man and any other rational beings exists as an
  end in themselves