...Immanuel Kant was an eighteenth century German philosopher whose moral views continue to be influential. His ethical theory is based on a deontological point of view, where the act itself has moral value regardless of the consequences. Kant dismisses emotions such as pity and compassion as irrelevant to morality and thought that making a choice based on feelings or fulfilling our desires is irrelevant when making a morally correct decision. His beliefs oppose that of moral relativism, in which a morally good act is entirely dependant on the circumstances or culture in which it takes place, instead believing in the necessity of a perfectly universalisable moral law. A significant area of ethical study for Kant was the investigation into human reasoning. His views were in response to that of the empiricists and rationalists. The rationalists attempted to prove that we can understand the world purely be using our reasoning, on the other hand empiricists argued that all of our knowledge originates from experience. Although he thought that neither approach was entirely successful, his beliefs were more closely linked with those of the rationalists. He explained that we only have knowledge of the world as it appears to us through our senses, and that humans never know the true reality of the world as we experience it through our own minds, of which various categories of thought have been built into. Therefore our scientific knowledge is only of our own experiences and perceptions...
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...Turning to the next voice of reasoning and theories of ethics is that of philosopher Immanuel Kant. Immanuel Kant’s theory pertains to good will, which is based on the premise that an individual is superior, if the superior will of the individual exists and is a result of choices being made due an obligation of superior morals resulting in how that individual behaves (Johnson & Cureton, 2017). Essentially this can be thought of as, an individual is good and presents good will if it is based one’s commitment of good morals. Furthermore, Kant also offers the reasoning that good will is something that does not need any qualifications. Kant’s reasoning is that regardless of a situation an individual finds themselves in, good will is still be present because it is embodied in the individual and not the circumstance (Van Camp, 2014). Opposite of this perspective is the actual actions that cannot be consistently good in all situations if an individual means them bad and has ill...
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...The Categorical Imperative Analyzing Immanuel Kant’s Grounding for A Metaphysics of Morals Anders Bordum WP 4/2002 January 2002 MPP Working Paper No. 4/2002 © January 2002 ISBN: 87-91181-06-2 ISSN: 1396-2817 Department of Management, Politics and Philosophy Copenhagen Business School Blaagaardsgade 23B DK-2200 Copenhagen N Denmark Phone: +45 38 15 36 30 Fax: +45 38 15 36 35 E-mail: as.lpf@cbs.dk www.cbs.dk/departments/mpp 2 The Categorical Imperative Analyzing Immanuel Kant's Grounding for a Metaphysics of Morals By Anders Bordum Keywords: Categorical imperative, discourse ethics, duty, ethics, monologic, dialogic, Immanuel Kant, Jürgen Habermas, self-legislation, self-reference. 3 Abstract In this article I first argue that Immanuel Kant’s conception of the categorical imperative is important to his philosophy. I systematically, though indirectly, interconnect the cognitive and moral aspects of his thinking. Second, I present an interpretation of the Kantian ethics, taking as my point of departure, the concept of the categorical imperative. Finally, I show how the categorical imperative is given a dialogical interpretation by Jürgen Habermas in his approach, usually referred to as discourse ethics. I argue that the dialogical approach taken by discourse ethics is more justifiable and therefore more usefuli. I The Synthesis of Rationalism and Empiricism The philosophy of Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) is in the main inspired...
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...Duty-Based and Outcome-Based Ethics Ethical reasoning is the process by which an individual examines a situation according to his or her moral convictions or ethical standards. Fundamental ethical reasoning approaches include: Duty-based ethics and Outcome-based ethics. Duty-based ethics weigh the end of an action against the means used to attain the end. Duty based ethics are based upon an underlying concept of duty regardless of the consequences of action taken or forsworn in keeping with duty. It generally arises from religious belief of philosophy reasoning. Ethical standards based on duty may also be derived from philosophical principles such as the Kantian philosophy. A central postulate in kantian ethics is that it should evaluate their actions in light of the consequences that follows if everyone in society acted in the same way. In duty-based ethics the categorical imperative can be applied to any action when deciding whether an action is ethical. To determine whether an action is ethical one should consider what the effect would be if everyone similarly situated acted in the same way. Categorical imperative ethics maintains that a decision should be made without trying to predict whether an action will create the greatest balance of good over evil. Ethics in the categorical imperative sense is a function of moral rules and principles and does not involve any calculation of the consequences. Although a duty cannot exist without a corresponding right, duty-based...
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...Utilitarianism and Kant’s Categorical Imperative The issues of morality are most clearly expressed through examples of different methods of analyzing a situation. The case of Holmes, an officer in charge of a sinking ship, shows the striking differences between philosopher Immanuel Kant’s beliefs and those of the Utilitarians. After Holmes’ ship sinks, there are twenty passengers in a lifeboat that is only meant to hold fourteen people. There was no time to send out a signal for help before the ship sank, so no rescue is guaranteed and the nearest land is fifteen hundred miles away. Holmes decides to force the wounded passengers and those wearing life jackets off of the lifeboat and make his way to shore without them. This action can be described as either moral or immoral depending on the way morality is perceived. One perspective on morality is that of the Utilitarian view. Utilitarianism states that an act is morally right in proportion as it tends to secure the greatest utility, pleasure, or happiness for the greatest number; wrong as it tends to produce disutility, pain, or unhappiness. This means that what is morally right can be decided by what action will create the most pleasure for the most people. It can be said that Utilitarians “measure” each deciding factor to determine what is morally right, as if it were part of a mathematical formula. The values of different sources of pleasure and pain can be based on many considerations including: intensity, duration...
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...Name: Hoang Nguyen Period: 2+3 Date: 05/18/18 Immanuel Kant’s Philosophy ~~~Moral is reason~~~ The main claim of Immanuel Kant is that morality come from reasoning (crash course). A thing is moral because it a right thing to do - the existence of itself is already consider good - , not because it has a good consequence. As an alternative way to put this, if a thing is acknowledged as rationally good, it is moral. So how do we know it is rationally good like Kant said? I will discuss about it later on. But first, you have to know why we must live according to that moral law. Can’t we do the bad thing if we want? Agreeing with Kant’s argument, we can’t, it is our duty to fulfil it. He reasoned all living thing ( except human ) always act...
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...Explain how the various formulations of the Categorical Imperatives might be applied to an ethical issue? [25] Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) is best known for his ‘Copernican Revolution’ in the theory of knowledge. He argued that space, time and causality were features of the way our minds organise experience, rather than features of the external world. Kant’s ethical theory was deontological and absolute. We use reason for morality acceptance. His categorical imperatives are part of Kant’s ethical theory, they require the sense of reason (which he believed that a human possess). He believed that if you combined ones duty with goodwill it will result in a moral act. Mixed emotions will not do in a moral situation, you need to exclude all possible emotions to make a perfect moral action. This will then result to summum bonum (an afterlife with God). However, to work out what your duty is, is an ethical dilemma. We can link Kant’s Categorical Imperatives (CI) to euthanasia. Euthanasia is terminating a patients life, painlessly, who is suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. Terminating someone's life can be voluntary (someone helps a person die) or involuntary ( where a patient is capable of ending their own life). Euthanasia can also be passive (food and water deprivation) or active (injected a patient with a medicine which will painlessly kill them). There are many churches and religions which will deny this mercy killing. Natural law followers...
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...Max Carey Ethics Paper 2 December 2, 2011 The Argument for Consequentialism Consequentialism and Imannuel Kant’s Theory of Moral Value provide a good framework for deciding what right actions are and specifically what actions are deemed intrinsically valuable. Consequentialism is going to emphasize that actions maximizing intrinsic value for all people affected by a situation are morally right while Kant is going to stress that only the motive behind an action determines whether an action is right, regardless of the consequences. Although consequentialism attributes the rightness of an action only on a consequence, consequentialist theories are more comprehensive theories of right action because they consider both motives and consequences in making moral decision, whereas Kant’s theory does not. Consequentialist theories of right action have two components. The first component states that a consequentialist theory will always answer what is intrinsically valuable. An object or thing that has intrinsic value is something that has value for its own sake. For example, pleasure and the feeling of happiness are intrinsically valuable because they are good in and of itself. The specific thing that is deemed intrinsically valuable can change according to what consequentialist theory one accepts. For example, utilitarians find the welfare of sentient beings intrinsically valuable while a hedonistic utilitarian finds only pleasure intrinsically valuable. The second...
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...quickly but has not made any final decision yet since he considers the market will improve in the future and will be able to receive a better offer for the house. My duty, as a member of the Ethics Department for ABC Company, is to advise the personnel about their ethical obligations. Luke, troubled by the situation, comes for advising. Issue Luke is faced with a dilemma and his ethical reasoning is being put to test. Luke has to choose between being loyal to the company or care for his brother’s personal finances. Luke has two possible options in this situation. What decision will be ethical? Since he works for ABC, he has the obligation and responsibility of maintaining confidentiality and loyalty to the company. On the other hand, his brother’s decision to wait for a better offer for the house might be greatly influenced and negatively affected by the project proposed by ABC. Luke’s relationship with his family might get damaged if he decides to keep quiet, but if he warns his brother ahead of time, his job and reputation will be in jeopardy. Utilitarianism and Kant’s categorical imperative theories will help get a better understanding of what ethical decision should be made in this situation. Analysis: Utilitarianism This philosophy stands for the...
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...knowledge) and theology (the study of religion) are still influential to current philosophers of our time. He was also known for his beliefs in ethics and his knowledge in astronomy. Kant was an independent person, meaning he did not let others influence his way of thought. He created his own moral values and acted alone in his findings and did not look for outside criticism. He believed that other people’s emotions and view towards a subject could impact one’s moral values and behavior. He was admired by his friends for this quality, and because of this he became famous for the concept known as the categorical imperative (Evers). Theory Developed and Its Example: Categorical Imperative: Kant developed a theory on morality that is known as the categorical imperative. This theory implies that one should only act on his or her own morals. Kant believed a person has a duty to be moral in every sense as he believed this was a moral requirement. He also believed that an action one takes must be moral enough for the entire universe to agree with, in order to become universally acceptable to keep peace and order (Hartman, 2011). According to Norman, “Kant’s moral imperative is categorical because it always holds – there are no ‘ifs, and, or buts’. One must always act on that maxim that one can will to be a universal law,” (Norman, 1983). In other words unless everyone in the universe benefits from the rule or duty it won’t...
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...Some Moral Minima By Jeremy Worrall Intro to Ethics & Social Responsibility Ashford University Instructor Tiffany Davis Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory, centering on the production of a good, happiness. Most of its problems center on the use of a nonmoral good, happiness, to dominate moral deliberation. Many philosophers who reject consequential moral theories believe that moral requirements are often valid whether or not they produce more nonmoral good. They propose a deontological moral theory. The most influential deontology was developed by the eighteenth-century Prussian philosopher Immanuel Kant, who many believe to be the greatest philosopher ever. Kant's greatness as a philosopher comes because of his originality, the depth of his thinking, and the influence he has had. This is true of his basic theories of knowledge and reality, and also of his influential moral theory. In each aspect of his thought, Kant moved to a position centering on human contribution. We contribute, he believed, to the "reality" of the world around us by our mental activities; likewise, morality does not come from outside us, by divine command or by cultural conditioning, but from human freedom and reasoning. Students of philosophy also know that Kant is sometimes as difficult to understand as he is great. So we will approach his moral view slowly and carefully, seeing how well it accords with some of our basic beliefs about moral experience. ...
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...severance package. One day, the man opened a letter from American Express with a $2,500 check made out to him. The check was money returned to his corporate business card from a flight he cancelled to Asia. The ethical dilemma is whether he should cash the check for himself or return it to the company. To decide what I would do with the $2,500 check in this situation, I applied a couple of ethical reasoning systems to this situation. The first ethical reasoning system I have chosen to apply is Kant’s Categorical Imperative. This ethical reasoning system is based on the idea that one should act as one thinks other people should act. Had the roles been reversed and the man would have been part of Global Investment Banking, he would probably have wanted a previous employee to return the check to the company. Under Kant’s Categorical Imperative a person is able to reverse the roles, and see what a situation would be like from a different point of view. From a different perspective, a person may choose to do what is morally correct because they are not biased. The second ethical reasoning system I have chosen to help decide what I would do in this situation is Deontology. Deontology refers to the morally right thing that a person should do. To look through this lens of Deontology at this case, it is obvious to me that the morally correct choice would be to return the $2,500 check. The check was sent to the man prior to him being laid off. He has even said that had he still been employed...
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...NOTION OF AUTONOMY IN KANT’S MORAL PHILOSOPHY AN UNDER GRADUATE DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE INSTITUTE OF ETHICS AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES OF UGANDA MARTYRS UNIVERSITY (UMU) NKOZI, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PHILOSOPHY BISIMWA MUNYALI EVARISTE MARCH 2011 1 DEDICACE This work is dedicated in a special way to: My ever loving and caring God, My family and the community of the Missionaries of Africa. 2 DECLARATION I………………………………………………………..have read the rules of Uganda Martyrs University on plagiarism and hereby state that this work is my own. It has not been submitted anywhere else for any qualification. I have acknowledged the secondary sources used in this work. NAME OF STUDENT…………………………………………………………. SIGNATURE…………………………………………………………………… DATE: …………………………………………………………………………… SUPERVISOR………………………………………………………………….. SIGNATURE…………………………………………………………………… DATE: ………………………………………………………………………….. 3 ABSTRACT The importance of a philosophical study dealing with moral issues, especially the principle of autonomy is indisputably great. It is a common agreement that morality is located within the scope of duty. Kant corroborates this held agreement by stating the categorical imperative which every human is obliged to act upon. He conceived this categorical imperative as the moral law which all those who claim to be moral beings have to live on. However, he also affirmed that only autonomous beings can be moral. Moreover, Autonomy seems to...
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...classmates or the internet. Page 1 1. Deontology deals with A. Emphasizes rights of others B. Consequences of actions C. Following prescribed virtue characteristics D. Following the law as an element of ethical behavior 2. Kant's categorical imperative principle suggests that: A. Only equals should be treated equally B. Everyone should be treated as a free and equal person C. Everyone should be treated unequally D. Only the elite are treated equally 3. Michael Josephson, founder of the Josephson Institute of Ethics, is credited for: A. Book of virtues B. Care and response orientation C. Six Pillars of Character D. Rights theory 4. Many critics say the biggest fault with utilitarianism is that it: A. Does not work in the real world B. Makes people appear helpless C. Makes everyone on equal footing D. It's impossible to foresee and measure all consequences 5. Virtue ethics emphasize development of good habits of character. What should be the greatest reward of practicing good habits of character, according to MacIntyre? A. External rewards B. Money C. Internal rewards D. Authority of rules 6. What is the number one virtue that people should want in a boss? A. Diligence B. Commitment C. Honesty D. Sense of humor 7. The best restatement of Kant's categorical imperative is: A. Do to others as you would have everyone do unto you. B. Consider others needs before you act. C. That those with a smaller stake should have a smaller say compared to those with a bigger stake. D. Don't be cruel...
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...or you go because you are a huge Dave Chappelle fan or you reluctantly go to the show even though you have tons of homework to do. According to Kant doing an act of good will means doing it strictly for the sake of duty. This means you are simply doing it because it is your job to do so. So in the situation with the Dave Chappelle show, if I were to go reluctantly to the show even though I have homework to do, I would be going out of good will. The other two reasons for going wouldn’t be considered good will because I would be getting some sort of pleasure or reward out of attending the show. You should feel no emotions other than “you must do this because it’s your duty.” The Function of Reason: Kant’s moral philosophy is largely grounded on practical reasoning. Kant believes that “Human reason is by its nature architectonic.” Meaning that reason allows us to identify grounds behind every truth. Generality helps explain the way things are by grouping things together in higher and higher levels from particular and contingent to the global and universal. Kant argues that the entire empirical world must be conceived of by reason as causally necessitated. Kant explains that, “one state with a previous state upon which the state follows according to the rule.” Like a domino effect, each cause springing from each causes’s cause, and each additional ascending cause must itself have a cause. Reason outlines a hierarchy that provides you with the conception of a whole system of...
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