1. Philosophy March 14th
Objective
Understand Kant’s Categorical Imperatives by applying them to thought experiments.

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Section 5.3 Much Obliged
Duty Makes Right
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McGraw-Hill

3. Kant on Intrinsic Value
“It is impossible to conceive anything at all in the world, or even out of it, which can be taken as good without qualification, except a good will.”
To have a good will is to make choices in accordance with moral principles.
Not happiness as the highest good

4. Kant’s Categorical Imperative
Moral principles can be viewed as imperatives, for they command us to do (or not do) certain things.
A categorical imperative is one that must be obeyed under all conditions.
Kant’s view is that moral principles are categorical.

5. The First Formulation of the Categorical Imperative
What makes an action right is that everyone could act on it, and you would be willing to have everyone act on it.

6. Universalizibility and Reversibility
A principle is universalizable if everyone can act on it.
A principle is reversible if the person acting on it would be willing to have everyone act on it.

7. Perfect and Imperfect Duties
A perfect duty is one that must always be performed no matter what.
For example: never lie, never steal, never break one’s promises, etc.
An imperfect duty is one that does not always have to be performed.
For example: develop one’s talents, help the needy, etc.
Would a Utilitarian ever sanction lying, stealing, etc?
Would Kant believe in capital punishment?

8. Thought Experiment: Hare’s Nazi Fanatic
Suppose that a Nazi fanatic is considering whether he should act on the principle “Kill all the Jews.”
The principle is universalizable; it is possible for everyone to act on it.
If the fanatic would be willing to die if he were a Jew, the principle would also be reversible.

9. Thought Experiment: Ross’s Good Samaritan
Suppose you had promised to meet someone at a certain time.
Suppose further that you could prevent an accident or bring relief to the victims of one by breaking the promise.
Should you break it?
Are there always exceptions to Perfect Duties?

10. The Second Formulation of the Categorical Imperative
What makes an action right is that it treats people as ends in themselves and not merely as a means to an end.
To treat people as ends in themselves is to respect their right to choose for themselves how they want to live.
Treat them as being intrinsically valuable
Do not treat them as tools to be used
Would this fix the problem of Hare’s Nazi Fanatic?

11. The Categorical Imperative: Two-Step process
Determine whether the principle to be acted on is universalizable and reversible,
Determine whether it treats everyone as ends in themselves, not merely as means to an end.
If the action passes both tests, it is morally permissible.
Look at your scenarios from last class. Apply the Categorical Imperatives and determine what Kant would say to do?

12. Determine whether the principle to be acted on is universalizable and reversible,
Determine whether it treats everyone as ends in themselves, not merely as means to an end.
A friend is very excited about a new haircut that looks horrible on him/her. Your friend asks you what you think of it. What do you say? Would it be any different if it was an outfit that the friend was trying on but had not yet bought?
A friend has just bought a CD and after listening to it, you love it. Your friend lends it to you. Is it ok to put it on your iPod?
A friend asks you to look over his college essay. You are very busy with your own work and don’t have the time to do a good job. Should you agree to do it?
You forgot to do the reading for philosophy class and have time over lunch. You realize that you’ve forgotten your book, but see a friend’s copy. He will not be around to ask if you can borrow it and you will get it back to him in class. Do you borrow the book?
You are approached by a homeless person and asked for money. The person says that he needs it for a cup of coffee. You doubt that it will really be spent for coffee, do you give him the money?

13. Thought Experiment: Broad’s Typhoid Man
Suppose that someone is suffering from typhoid fever.
If we quarantine him, we are treating him merely as a means to the safety of others.
If we don’t quarantine him, we are treating others merely as a means to his comfort and culture.

14. Thought Experiment: Ewing’s Prudent Diplomat
Suppose that telling a lie would avert the third world war.
Wouldn’t we be morally obligated to do so?

15. Thought Probe: War
Which type of rationale for the war in Iraq – Kantian or utilitarian – seems most plausible to you? Why?
Does any rationale seem plausible? Why or why not?

16. Ross’s Prima Facie Duties
An actual duty is one that we are morally obligated to perform in a particular situation.
A prima facie duty is one that we are morally obligated to perform in every situation unless there are extenuating circumstances.

17. Ross’s Prima Facie Duties
Duties of fidelity: keep promises, honor contracts, tell the truth
Duties of reparation: compensation for acts of cruelty and negligence
Duties of justice: fair dealings with others
Duties of beneficence: benefit others
Duties of nonmaleficence: not to harm others
Duties of gratitude: compensate others for acts of kindness
Duties of self-improvement: become better people

18. Ross’s Pluralistic Formalism
What makes an action right is that it falls under the highest ranked prima facie duty in a given situation.
Problem: Duties often conflict. Deciding which duty to act on is like evaluating a work of art; it requires evaluating many different qualities.

19. Thought Probe: Desert Island Bequest
Suppose you are shipwrecked on a desert island with a dying millionaire.
He offers to give you his fortune if you promise to use it to plant flowers in Siberia.
You make the promise, but when you are rescued, you put his millions into cancer research.
Did you do the right thing?

20. So far…
Utilitarianism is concerned with providing for the common good, but doesn’t respect individual rights
The categorical imperative respects individual rights but is not concerned with providing for the common good
Ross’s pluralistic formalism is concerned with both the common good and individual rights but provides no effective means of deciding which takes precedence in a given situation

21. Crash Course: Kant

22. Rawls’s Contractarianism “Justice as Fairness”
What makes an action right is that it is in accord with the principles established by an ideal social contract.
An ideal social contract is one drawn up by ideal social contract makers.

23. The Original Position and the Veil of Ignorance
Ideal social contract makers would be totally impartial.
To insure their impartiality, they would negotiate behind a veil of ignorance; they would not know their talents, interests, or social position.
Such contract makers are said to be in the original position.

24. Principles Sanctioned by Rawls’s Contractarianism:
Principle of equal liberty: each person has an equal right to maximum possible liberty.
Principle of fair equality of opportunity: each person has an equal opportunity to be given an office or position.
The Difference Principle: social and economic opportunities are arranged so that they are to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged persons.
Choose the best worst case scenario.