The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Immanuel Kant

The Will Only thing that is intrinsically good All other goods depend on the good will For example, political power – Good Will – Good ruler – Bad Will – Bad Ruler The Will determines how good the other good (i.e. political power)

What is a Good Will? Free, rational will that acts in accordance with duty and not pleasure/desire.

What Makes a Human Being? The ability to act in accordance with moral obligation We are not designed for acting in accordance to happiness, but to morality Nature has created us to be reasonable, and so we must act in accordance to this reason rather than happiness We will see this in one of his four examples (neglect of talents)

Moral Actions Moral actions only have worth if done according to duty You cannot act for any other intention (i.e. desire/pleasure) – For example, cheating A. Do you act because of a duty to uphold the morality of integrity? B. Or, do you act out of fear of getting caught and punished? You MUST act according to A and never B

Freedom We are truly free when we act according to duty Our desires enslave us Reason frees us from this enslavement Only actions done according to duty have moral worth, since they are based on reason (i.e. freely chosen without bias from desire)

Moral Duty Universal – Applies to ALL rational beings – Distinguishes duties from preferences Categorical – All MORAL imperatives (commands) are categorical

Hypothetical Imperatives Conditional – Based on a desired outcome – For example: Desired outcome is to be a good doctor Imperative would be to go to a good medical school Going to medical school is dependant on your desired outcome It is not a duty i.e., You do not NEED to go to medical school. You could go to law school

Categorical Imperative Unconditional – You ought to act regardless of context – Morality never commands from desire (i.e. desired outcome) – Duty is unchanging – Morality needs to be based on duty Moral commands can be immediately identified – Observe the act based on categorical form

Maxims Every action that is morally ratable (CI) is freely willed Freely chosen acts are physical manifestations of our intentions Intentions are representative of principles – These principles are maxims

Maxims Cont Action – Stealing – What is the Maxim (i.e. principle) you protrude? Whenever I want what I cannot afford, I will steal it. We can only control this Maxim of ours Only element (i.e. intent) under our control Outcomes are out of our control – Determined in large part to circumstance of context Must only act morally on what we can control

Example Nazi Soldier You agree to hide a Jewish man running from Nazi Nazi asks if you know where Jewish man is According to Maxim (I can never falsify information) must be obeyed. You can only control YOUR principles You CANNOT control the Nazi’s principles You have acted morally according to duty; Nazi has acted immorally according to desire

Kant’s Supreme Moral Principle Categorical Imperative – “Act only in accordance with that maxim through which you can at the same time will it to be a universal law.” Everyone must be able to imitate your act at all times – If not, immoral

Categorical Imperative Must be able to apply it without violating rationality and reason Shows four examples of this

Example 1 Suicide Maxim – From self-love I adopt it as a principle to shorten my life when its longer duration is likely to bring more evil than satisfaction.” Violates rationality – You cannot use self love as an excuse to kill yourself since self love is also the very reason why you try to improve and continue your life.

Example 2 Borrow money under false pretenses Maxim – When I think myself in want of money, I will borrow money and promise to repay it, although I know I never can do so. Violates rationality – No statement would be believed, and no one would be able to borrow money since no lender would ever think people are telling the truth.

Example 3 Neglect of talents Maxim – (Never explicitly stated) – I can neglect natural gifts in favor of indulgences Violates Rationality – Nature gives talents as part of the law of nature, so man must cultivate out of duty what nature has given them.

Example 4 Charity Maxim – (NES) Whenever I see someone in need, I will refuse to help them even if I have the physical means to do so Violates Rationality – When you want help, you will have created a world incapable of helping you

Kingdom of Ends Moral Universe We create the moral universe through our actions in accordance to duty to moral law Ask yourself “What kind of world am I willing when I act?” Must create the moral universe Combined collection of everyone’s actions

Kingdom of Ends, Cont. In this universe, all rational beings are equal and sovereign Equal due to our ability to act in accordance to the moral duty with our reason We make equal contributions to the moral universe Sovereign since each of us is a creator of this universe

Kingdom of Ends Through KOE, we come to know that all rational beings must be treated not as a means, but always as an end To treat them as a means denies them their role as equal authors of the moral universe

Groundwork Focus Questions 1.How would Rand react to Kant’s assertion that our desires enslave us? Do you agree with Rand or Kant? 2.Discuss how Mill would address Kant’s ideas about duty? 3.To what extent should the pragmatic application of the Supreme Moral Duty influence our moral decisions?

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