Kantian Ethics Introduction to Philosophy Jason M. Chang

Lecture Outline 1. Background 2. Kant on moral worth 3. Acting from duty 4. The categorical imperative

Background Biography Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785) Immanuel Kant ( )

Kant on moral worth

Imagine that you are waiting to cross a busy street. Next to you is an old lady struggling to carry her grocery bags. You decide to help the lady cross the street. In fact, you help carry her bags to her house only several blocks away. Does this act have moral worth?

Kant on moral worth Utilitarian Of course – assuming that it generates the greatest happiness Kantian It depends! Does the act have moral worth?

Kant on moral worth Act with moral worth = act performed from the right motive What this implies

Kant on moral worth The motive is the only thing that matters when determining whether an act has moral worth What does it mean to act from the right motive?

Acting from duty

Human beings can act from inclination Desires (for happiness, recognition, success, power, companionship) Emotions (love, compassion, anger) Capacity to act from desires and emotions I help the old lady… From my desire for money From my desire for my happiness For my desire for companionship Out of compassion

Are human beings capable of acting from something other than desire or emotion?

Acting from duty Human beings can act from reason Rationality Can act “out of principle” Can act out of respect for what morality requires I help the old lady… Out of respect for what morality requires Because it is the right thing to do

Acting from duty If I help the old lady… From my desire for money From my desire for my happiness For my desire for companionship Out of compassion or emotion If I help the old lady… Because it is the right thing to do Out of respect for what morality requires Acting according to duty (No moral worth) Acting from duty (Moral worth)

Acting from duty To do what morality requires NOT because it is the right thing to do, but to fulfill a desire or achieve an outcome Acting according to duty Acting from duty To do what morality requires because it is the right thing to do (i.e., acting out of respect for what morality requires)

An act has moral worth only if it is performed from the right motive Human beings can do the right thing either from inclination (desires, emotions) or from reason Doing the right thing from inclination = acting according to duty Doing the right thing from reason = acting from duty Acting from duty = acting out of respect for the moral law

The moral law (The categorical imperative)

The categorical imperative About the categorical imperative Supreme principle of morality The law we respect when acting from duty Can be phrased in three different ways

The categorical imperative Second formulation “Act as you treat humanity, whether your own person or in the person of any other, as an end and never as a means only.” (Humanity formula) Major ideas: 1.Treating others as an end 2.Treating others never as a means only

The categorical imperative “Treating others as an end” Background o Humans as having intrinsic value What it means to “treat others as an end” o To treat or view a person in a manner that recognizes their intrinsic value (i.e., having value independent of their usefulness, race, gender, accomplishments, etc.)

The categorical imperative “Treating others as a means only” What it means to “treat others as a means only” o To view or treat a person as having value only because of their usefulness

The categorical imperative Second formulation “Act as you treat humanity, whether your own person or in the person of any other, as an end and never as a means only.” (Humanity formula) Translation Always treat yourself and others in a manner that is consistent with their intrinsic value as persons

The categorical imperative Second formulation “Act as you treat humanity, whether your own person or in the person of any other, as an end and never as a means only.” (Humanity formula) Examples acts forbidden by the second formulation Murder Casual sex Suicide Masturbation

The categorical imperative First formulation “Act always in a way that we can will the principle of our action to become a universal law.” (Universal law formula) Major ideas: Universal law A universal law is a moral principle that everyone will accept

The categorical imperative Particular individuals Disagree about moral principles Individuals who recognize their intrinsic worth Agree on ways they want to be treated and ways not to be treated

The categorical imperative Individuals who recognize their intrinsic worth Demand that they be treated in a manner that is consistent with their intrinsic worth Demand that they are not killed, lied to, raped, stolen from, disrespected, or used as a means only

The categorical imperative First formulation “Act always in a way that we can will the principle of our action to become a universal law.” (Universal law formula) Translation Always treat others in a manner that all beings that recognize their intrinsic worth demand to be treated