...CONTEMPORARY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE Immanuel Kant and Euthanasia Euthanasia is defined the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. The topic of whether euthanasia is morally or ethical wrong has been argued for decades. In those arguments, philosopher Immanuel Kant’s theories have always been cited. Based on Kant’s Deontology theory, the outcome of an action is not relevant to morality; the only right thing is to do what reason dictates. His categorical imperative states: Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law” (McLachlan, 2009, p70.). Thus as a rational being, man cannot to formulate a maxim to give other’s right to take his life because of he is in a terrible condition. This kind of maxim will not form a universal law thus it should be removed and replaced with a more reasonable maxim. If we will such maxim, we will end in hypothetical imperative not categorical. In addition, Kant explained the practical imperative further in his categorical imperative second formulation: “act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end and never as a means only” (McLachlan, 2009, p73.). Thus, if humanity is an end, no man has the right to take his life even in whatever condition he finds himself Overall, Kant’s theory is very influential in the argument of euthanasia ethical issues. Based on...
Words: 523 - Pages: 3
...Immanuel Kant was born April 22, 1724 and died February 12, 1804. He lived throughout his life in what we know today as Kaliningrad, Russia. He is a well-known and studied philosophical researcher, lecturer, and writer whose main interests include epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and logic. After learning of David Hume, Kant began to develop his own ideas of morals and values. Although Kant has many writings one of his greatest pieces is his, “Critique of Pure Reason” (1781). He is also well known for his moral cade, ‘The Categorical imperative’ and ‘Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, Grounding of the Metaphysics of Morals, and Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals.’ Knowledge Kant has many theories on knowledge in which are interesting, in my opinion. Kant states that, “In the order of time, therefore, we have no knowledge antecedent to experience, and with experience all of our knowledge begins, but although all of our knowledge gins with experience, it does not follow that it all arises out of experience.” I feel that knowledge and experience are connected but to have pure knowledge there are other sources other than experience. Kant calls these judgments or absolute truths,a priori.According to Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason, “Necessity and universality are sure criteria of a priori knowledge,and areinseparable from one another”. According to Wikipedia.org, a priori is “knowledge or justification id independent of experience”. For example, saying all household...
Words: 872 - Pages: 4
...Eric Melino Professor Ndovie PHI 101 3/7/13 Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher born in 1724 in Königsberg, Prussia. Kant was a solid albeit unspectacular, student. He was brought up in a Pietist household that stressed education that preferred Latin and religious instruction instead of mathematics and science. Kant lived a predictable life. He never married. Kant was a popular teacher and a modestly successful author before starting on his major philosophical works. He studied at the University of Königsberg. He is best known for his work in philosophy of ethics and metaphysics. Immanuel Kant “rejected the empiricists blank slate hypothesis on the grounds that the mind was not simply a passive receptacle of neutral sense data (Palmer 102).” He replaced some of these ideas with categories, which were formal and active features of the mind. Kant’s model of the mind can be broken down into three categories: the mind is complex set of abilities, the functions crucial for mental, knowledge-generating activity, and these functions called synthesis. “Kant held surprisingly strong and not entirely consistent views on the empirical study of the mind. The empirical method for doing psychology that Kant discussed was introspection (Brook).” Kant’s synthesis is broken down into three parts: apprehending in intuition, reproducing in imagination, and recognizing in concepts. Each of these three concepts relates to a different aspect of fundamental duality of intuition...
Words: 635 - Pages: 3
...Immanuel Kant remains one of the most influential modern philosophers in the realm of western philosophy. As a philosopher, Kant’s teachings stretched into the fields of, yet not inclusive to, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology. However, it was Kant’s view of ethics that perhaps was paramount; it is as well important to delve further and pinpoint reason and good will as the source of morality in his ethical teachings. It is utterly inconceivable to simplify Kant’s works and theologies into less than 2,000 words; however, I will try. Kant’s philosophical teachings branched into many different disciplines – challenging common notions and making significant impacts as he taught them. However, it is his ethical theory that has been the most...
Words: 1770 - Pages: 8
...Immanuel Kant A Famous Philosopher 10/21/2012 Kelley Huttar Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804): Immanuel Kant was a modern day German deontologist from Prussia and became one of history’s most famous Philosophers. A deontologist is someone who believes in acts that are strictly right or wrong. Kant was an influential thinker and one of the last philosophers of the Enlightenment era. However his work in epistemology (the study of 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...
Words: 2227 - Pages: 9
...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...
Words: 1047 - Pages: 5
...IMMANUEL KANT - BIOGRAPHY Dropbox Assignment #3 By Michael Johnson Darryl Sanborn Business Ethics (MGMT 368) 04/12/06 Michael Johnson Darryl Sanborn Business Ethics (MGMT 368) 04/12/06 IMMANUEL KANT - BIOGRAPHY Immanuel Kant was born in Königsberg, East Prussia in 1724. He attended the Collegium Fridiricianum when he was eight years old. He studied there for eight years. He then went into the University Of Königsberg, where he spent his academic career focusing on philosophy, mathematics and physics. When his father passed away it affected him strongly and he left the university. He earned his living as a private tutor. In 1755 he accepted the help of a friend and resumed his studies at the university. He received his doctorate in 1756. He taught at the university for 15 years, in the beginning his lectures were in the sciences and mathematics arenas. He would eventually also lecture most branches of philosophy. Even though he had a growing reputation as an original thinker, he did not gain tenure at the university until 1770. That is when he received his professorship of logic and metaphysics. [1] He continued writing and lecturing at Königsberg for 27 years. He attracted many students there due to his rationalist and hence, unconventional approach to religious texts. This led to political pressure from the government of Prussia, and in 1792, he was barred from teaching or writing on religious subjects by the King of Prussia, Fredrich William...
Words: 855 - Pages: 4
...Immanuel Kant published a writing, Religion Within the Boundaries of Mere Reason, a paper which described what he thought to be the underlying relationship between morality and religion. Within this writing, there was a passage which read, “Although on its own behalf morality does not need the representation of an end which would have to proceed the determination of the will, it may well be that it has a necessary reference to such an end, not as the ground of its maxims but as a necessary consequence accepted in conformity to them” (58). Although Kant’s writings can often times be confusing,this passage is understood if you know what he defines “end” and “morality” as. When Kant said “end”, what he was really referring to is an eternal afterlife,...
Words: 485 - Pages: 2
...Week 3 Dropbox Assignment Immanuel Kant was born in Prussia (Germany) in 1724 and was a major contributor to the study of Ethics. He was known as a philosopher and scientist and was also very involved in the study of mathematics, astrophysics, geography and anthropology. He also wrote about metaphysics, morality, science, politics, and free will. However, it was his study of ethics for which he is best known. Kant played a major role in developing the theory of deontology (duty). The deontological theory says people should adhere to their obligations and duties when analyzing an ethical dilemma. In other words, a person will follow his or her obligations to another individual or society because upholding one's duty is what is considered ethically correct. Utilitarianism seeks to maximize happiness and pleasure, regardless of the action taken to reach the desired state of pleasure. Deontology differs from the theory of utilitarianism in that the ends do not always justify the means – meaning there are some actions that are always wrong to engage in, regardless of it producing a positive result. According to deontology, an action should be taken without regard to the outcome or consequences of the action. It assumes that people are rational and decisions should lack emotion and any consideration of the consequences. The goal of deontology is to produce more consistent decisions based on an individual’s sense of obligation to others or society. It seems that...
Words: 329 - Pages: 2
...Immanuel Kant held that in order to function in the world we classify sensory data by applying labels and concepts to what we sense, often in an unconscious manner . However, Kant’s concepts are simultaneously crucial and problematic aspects of a reflective judgment in our analysis of an artwork. Kant’s critiques about art are based on his previous studies regarding the perception and judgment of beauty in the natural world, and at its core are three major themes of aesthetic judgment; disinterested interest, being purposive without a purpose, and expression of feeling (intuition) rather an a concept. However, by the constant cognitive process of attempting to apply a concept to a work of art, we are engaging with the process of contemplation,...
Words: 1658 - Pages: 7
...In Critique of Pure Reason and Critique of Practical Reason Immanuel Kant attempts to reconcile causal determinism on the one hand and human freedom on the other. Kant’s unique argument centers around a distinction between human reason, which originates spontaneously from itself with no previous cause, and its effect on the external world which always has a cause and is part of a causal chain of events. In essence human beings have the freedom to choose a response regardless of the effects of events in the external world. Kant presents cogent and comprehensive argument that is difficult to write off. I will argue in favor or Kant’s position as he does a masterful job in removing what appears to be an obvious contradiction of compatibilism. Kant identifies two forms of causality: causality via the laws of nature, or determinism and causality from freedom of will (Critique of Pure Reason, A532 / B560). Causality from nature is...
Words: 2020 - Pages: 9
...initiative. Please Read How You Can Help Keep the Encyclopedia Free Author & Citation Info | Friends PDF Preview | InPho Search | PhilPapers Bibliography Kant and Hume on Morality First published Wed Mar 26, 2008; substantive revision Sun Aug 12, 2012 The ethics of Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) is often contrasted with that of David Hume (1711–1776). Hume's method of moral philosophy is experimental and empirical; Kant emphasizes the necessity of grounding morality in a priori principles. Hume says that reason is properly a “slave to the passions,” while Kant bases morality in his conception of a reason that is practical in itself. Hume identifies such feelings as benevolence and generosity as proper moral motivations; Kant sees the motive of duty—a motive that Hume usually views as a second best or fall back motive—as uniquely expressing an agent's commitment to morality and thus as conveying a special moral worth to actions. Although there are many points at which Kant's and Hume's ethics stand in opposition to each other, there are also important connections between the two. Kant shared some important assumptions about morality and motivation with Hume, and had, early in his career, been attracted to and influenced by the sentimentalism of Hume and other British moralists. The aim of this essay is not to compare Hume and Kant on all matters ethical. Instead, we examine...
Words: 24372 - Pages: 98
...Universal Law, Theory of Immanuel Kant Kantianism is one of the theories of ethics. The creator of this theory is Immanuel Kant. His central concept was categorical imperative. Universal law of this concept says that you should only act on maxims that you can will to become universal laws. I don’t think that this is a good test for determining what action is morally allowable. This test can be used for many situations, but it doesn’t always work. Each person is very individual, so we can’t say exactly what universal law said. The idea of Kantianism is all about acting on the basis of rules that everyone accepts, but not on the emotions or personal goals. Kant uses Universal law to make the test of those rules. To act only on maxims that you can will to become a universal law is the Universal Law Test. To make the test we have to know the maxim, which is always expressed as a general rule or policy. Maxim is your reason for choosing to act in a given way. Kant’s idea of that test is that if a maxim passes the Universal Law, then this action which passes the test is morally good. For example, if you will say “As a general rule, it is okay to buy sandwiches in school’s buffet because you are hungry”, ok yes, that passes the test. The Universal law said that you can buy sandwiches because everyone will accept that. But if you would say “As a general rule, it is okay to steal sandwiches in school’s buffet because you are hungry”, that would not pass the test. Not everyone will...
Words: 1607 - Pages: 7
...The enlightenment is a social and intellectual movement that on its face seems extremely critical of contemporary social and political institutions, and the point that Kant is writing is extremely critical of traditional authorities. In Immanuel Kant’s essay ‘‘What is Enlightenment?’’ he is explaining what the meaning of Enlightenment is and how the general public could reach this. At the same time he is trying to reassure those authorities that the movement is not threatening and it's not something that needs to be oppressed. For him the enlightenment is “the human being’s emergence from his self incurred immaturity”. Simply meaning that an individual is able to grasp his own understanding without guidance from another man. Though the Enlightenment movement delivered the motivation to have courage to separate from one's guardians it doesn't rationalize that an individual's own reason to come to a conclusion will always be influenced by societies and cultures....
Words: 1252 - Pages: 6
...John Stuart Mill vs. Immanuel Kant The aim of this paper is to clearly depict how John Stuart Mill’s belief to do good for all is more appropriate for our society than Immanuel Kant’s principle that it is better to do what's morally just. I will explain why Mill’s theory served as a better guide to moral behavior and differentiate between the rights and responsibilities of human beings to themselves and society. Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill are philosophers who addressed the issues of morality in terms of how moral customs are formed. Immanuel Kant presented one perspective in The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals that is founded on his belief that the worth of man is inherent in his skill to reason. John Stuart Mill holds another belief as presented in the book, Utilitarianism, which is seemingly conflicting with the thoughts of Kant. What is most unique about the ethics of morality is the idea of responsibilities to particular individuals. According to both Mill and Kant, moral obligations are not fundamentally particularistic because they are rooted in universal moral principles. Both philosophers have made great impacts in their niche areas in the field. An analysis of their theories may help develop a better understanding of them and their theories. Mill holds an empiricist theory while Kant holds a rationalist theory. Kant explains morality through forms that he believes are essential to free and sensible judgment. Mill’s utilitarian approach...
Words: 2175 - Pages: 9
