1. Moral Theory Overview: Immanuel Kant
Ashley St. Clair and Dana Hogan

2. Immanuel Kant ( )

3. Biography Family Education Religion Young Scholar The Critical Turn
Lifelong devotion to understanding

4. Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals
1785
Categorical Imperative
Uses reason as the standard for good
The three main maxims
A person acts morally if the conduct would, without condition, be the "right" conduct for any person in similar circumstances
Treats others as ends in themselves and not as a means to an end
The conclusion of the conduct was like establishing a universal law governing others in similar circumstances
an a priori view or a view without drawing on observations of human beings and their behavior
Imperative per Kant is any proposition that declares a certain action or inaction to be necessary whereby it denotes an absolute that asserts its authority in all circumstances
Most ethical conflicts look at what is "right" (helping someone) and what is "good" (what you want) however with Kant's imperative he focuses on the "right" and believed that the "good" was irrelevant

5. Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals
Perfect duty
We ought not act by maxims that result in logical contradictions when universalized
Imperfect duties
Based on reason but allow for desires in how they are carried out.
Perfect duty is the thought that we should not act by maxims that result in logical contradictions when universalized.
Always out weight the imperfect duties
Most be carried out completely
Example: Should not steal, if it was right then everyone should steal which is wrong
Whereas imperfect duties are those duties which are based on reason but allow for desires in how they are carried out
Don’t have to complete
Praise with completion, no criticism if not
Example: Charitable contributions are good but not moral obligations, praise when done

6. Critique of Practical Reason
1788
Analytic of Pure Practical Reason-categorical imperative as the one true moral principle
Free Person vs Moral Person
Free Person
Acts on internal laws, not randomly or on externally given laws which would be a form of slavery there for by categorical imperative not right
Moral person
Following practical law and is not bound by contingent desires
By following the moral law it frees people from the control of their desires and allows people to feel the force of practical law so they come to know that there is such a law

7. Critique of Practical Reason
Dialectic of Pure Practical Reason
Expose the errors of previous and concurrent ethicists
Flaw in seeing the moral worth as aiming at the highest good instead of seeing the highest good as that which is aimed at by morality
Doctrine of Method
Proposes a method for teaching morality
Examples that are over the top are not appropriate

8. Application in Today’s Healthcare

9. Drawbacks of the Theory
Right vs. Wrong only
No “shades of gray”
Conflicting duty

10. American Nurses Association (ANA)
Kant’s Moral Philosophy
“Act so that you treat humanity, whether in your person or in that of another, always as an end and never as a means" (Immanuel Kant)
ANA Code of Ethics Provision Five
"The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety, to maintain competence, and to continue personal and professional growth"
Kant's thought that inherent respect for the dignity of each person is due from the person and from others
Kant's "perfect duties" included the duty not to kill another innocent person, the duty not to lie, and the duty to keep promises

11. Conclusions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwOCmJevigw
What do you think?
How would the examples used in class previously apply with Kant’s philosophy?
Do you agree or not?