1. Immanuel Kant and the Ethics of Duty
9/18/2018
©Lawrence M. Hinman

2. Overview Part I. The Ethics of Duty
Part II. Universalizability and the Categorical Imperative
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

3. Part I. The Ethics of Duty
More than any other philosopher, Kant emphasized the way in which the moral life was centered on duty.
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

4. Two Conceptions of Duty
Duty as following orders
The Adolph Eichmann model
Duty is external
Duty is imposed by others
Duty as freely imposing obligation on one’s own self
The Kantian model
Duty is internal
We impose duty on ourselves
The second conception of duty is much more morally advanced than the first.
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

5. Duty and Following Orders
“I had known the Categorical Imperative, but it was in a nutshell, in a summarized form. I suppose it could be summarized as, ‘Be loyal to the laws, be a disciplined person, live an orderly life, do not come into conflict with laws’—that more or less was the whole essence of that law for the use of the little man.”
Adolph Eichmann
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

6. Duty and Inclination
Kant was mistrustful of inclinations (Neigungen) as motivations
This was part of his view of the physical world as causally determined
Saw feelings as
Unreliable
Passive
Phenomenal
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

7. The Man of Duty --Groundwork of a Metaphysics of Morals
“Suppose then that the mind of this friend of man were overclouded by sorrows of his own which extinguished all sympathy with the fate of others, but that he still had power to help those in distress, though no longer stirred by the need of others because sufficiently occupied with his own; and suppose that, when no longer moved by any inclination, he tears himself out of this deadly insensibility and does the action without any inclination for the sake of duty alone; then for the first time his action has its genuine moral worth. Still further: if nature had implanted little sympathy in this or that man’s heart; if (being in other respects an honest fellow) he were cold in temperament and indifferent to the sufferings of others—perhaps because, being endowed with the special gift of patience and robust endurance in his own sufferings, he assumed the like in others or even demanded it; if such a man (who would in truth not be the worst product of nature) were not exactly fashioned by her to be a philanthropist, would he not still find in himself a source from which he might draw a worth far higher than any that a good- natured temperament can have? Assuredly he would. It is precisely in this that the worth of character begins to show—a moral worth and beyond all comparison the highest—namely, that he does good, not from inclination, but from duty.”
--Groundwork of a Metaphysics of Morals
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

8. Criticisms of the Ethics of Duty
Moral Minimalism
Requirements are not heartfelt
Moral Alienation
Alienated from feelings
Duty and “Just Following Orders”
This is not Kant’s genuine position
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

9. Part II. Universalizability and the Categorical Imperative
Central insight:
What is fair for one is fair for all
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

10. Living by Rules
Most of us live by rules much of the time. Some of these are what Kant called Categorical Imperatives—unconditional commands that are binding on everyone at all times.
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

11. Types of Imperatives Hypothetical Imperative: Categorical Imperative
“If you want to drive to UCLA from San Diego, take the 405 freeway.”
Structure: if…then…
Categorical Imperative
“Always tell the truth”
Unconditional, applicable at all times
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

12. Maxims
Maxims, according to Kant, are subjective rules that guide action.
Relevant Act Description
Sufficient Generality
All actions have maxims, such as,
Never lie to your friends.
Never act in a way that would make your parents ashamed of you.
Always watch out for number one.
It’s ok to cheat if you need to.
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

13. Categorical Imperatives: Universality
“Always act in such a way that the maxim of your action can be willed as a universal law of humanity.”
--Immanuel Kant
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

14. Categorical Imperatives: Respect
“Always treat humanity, whether in yourself or in other people, as an end in itself and never as a mere means.”
--Immanuel Kant
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

15. Classroom Exercises
Most of us live by rules, obedience to which we take as a duty.
What are the most important rules you live by?
What were the most important rules in your family?
What rules have you rejected as you have gotten older?
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

16. Lying Is it possible to universalize a maxim that permits lying?
What is the maxim?
It’s ok to cheat when you want/need to?
Can this consistently be willed as a universal law?
No, it undermines itself, destroying the rational expectation of trust upon which it depends.
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

17. Academic Cheating
Cheating involves not playing by the rules. Is it possible for the cheater to will his/her maxim as a universal law?
No, because then others (including the teacher) could refuse to follow the rules as well, failing the cheater even with a good grade.
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

18. Exceptions Are exceptions possible for Kant? Examples
Yes, as long as they can be consistently universalized
Examples
The speeding car
We can universalize an exception for something like ambulance drivers
The Gestapo example
Can we universalize a maxim to deceive in order to save innocent lives?
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

19. Kant and the Alleged Right to Tell a Lie
In an essay written near the end of his life, Kant maintained that you are never justified in telling a lie.
Beliefs about causality—if you do the right thing, you are not responsible for bad outcomes.
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©Lawrence M. Hinman

20. Conclusion Kant saw that morality must be fair and evenhanded.
The Kantian path offers a certain kind of moral safety in an uncertain world.
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©Lawrence M. Hinman