Summary of Kantian Ethics from Ethics part of OCR RE A-Level. Includes duty, goodwill, moral law, hypothetical imperative, categorical imperative and more...
Kantian Ethics
This is a theory based on reason and thus not clouded by emotion or senses
- This makes Kant a rationalist
Ethical dilemmas focus on intention not unknown future outcomes = deontological
Absolute theory – the command to do one’s duty is invariable (never changing)
Duty
Duty is what you ought to do w/ a moral obligation to perform certain actions
- We are free will and reason allowing us to work + act out our duty
Duty for duty’s sake, if you follow your duty you are morally blameless
Duty = comes from categorical imperative
Duty involved
1. No emotion
2. Non personal gain
3. No authority command
Kant believed emotions are not wrong but amora, only morality is that which follows duty
Goodwill
An act is only good if the act is based off good will i.e. wanting to benefit others w/ good
intention
‘Goodwill shines forth like a precious jewel’ this is the highest form of goof
Kant used the example of a shopkeeper who keeps prices low to get more profit
- ‘It is impossible to conceive of anything at all in the world, or even out of it, which
can be taken as good without qualification, except good will’
- Therefore other qualities can be misused
Moral Law
Duty + goodwill make the moral, ‘the moral law within’ meaning everyone can reach it
- Therefore free to choose to act towards moral law, we all are striving for Summon
Bonum
In the Groundwork, Kant argues error happens with heteronomous approaches, i.e. when
others set the laws
- To Kant this is not acceptable, the moral law we should follow is reason
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