Kants Moral Theory

Leading Proponent
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

A German philosopher professor who taught at the University of

Konigsberg, now located in the city of Kaliningrad in the
westernmost section of Russia.

Regarded as a central figure in the history of modern philosophy.

Some regard him as the greatest modern philosopher.

A firm believer in the ideas of the Enlightenment, especially reason

and freedom, and supporter of the American Revolution.
 Kants Moral Theory
Two main questions that philosophy should answer:

1. What can I know?

2. What ought I do?

 Kants Moral Theory
Moral judgment should not be based on the
consequences of ones actions.

1. The importance of a motive to do what is right.

2. People ought not to be used, but ought to be

regarded as having the highest intrinsic value.
 Kants Moral Theory

1. The importance of a motive to do what is right.

The motives to do good or bad are within our

control, thus we are morally accountable for them.

The consequences of our acts are not always in

our control and things do not always turn out as
we want.
 Kants Moral Theory
2. People ought not to be used, but ought to be regarded as
having the highest intrinsic value.

Basic assumptions:

1. Persons are autonomous, have the ability to set goals, capable

of being self-ruled, to choose even if their choices have been
subjected to some influence.

2. Always treat humanity, whether in your own person or that of

another, never simply as a means but always at the same time
as an end.
 Kants Moral Theory
What is the right motive?

Good will - as having the right intention

An act has a specific moral worth only when it is

done with the right intention or motive.
A will which is good unconditionally.

Good will as an act of duty

To do right is an act out of duty, out of concern

and respect for the moral law.
 Evaluating Kants Moral Theory
Categorical Imperative

Comparable with principle of utility for

utilitarians.

A moral obligation, or a moral ought, which tells

us what to do no matter what, under all
conditions, or categorically.

A product of reason, a reason that universalizes

principles of conduct.
 Evaluating Kants Moral Theory

The categorical imperative is translated to a

maxim which refers to the general rule in
accordance with which the agent intends to
act.

A maxim must pass the test of

universalizability.
 Evaluating Kants Moral Theory
What constitutes universalizable principles of conduct?

First form of categorical imperative

Act only on that maxim that you can will as a universal

law.

Second form of categorical imperative

Always treat humanity, whether in your own person or

that of another, never simply as a means but always at
the same time as an end.
Four Applications of Categorical Imperative

Written by Immanuel Kant in the

Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals

1. Making a lying promise

2. Suicide
3. Neglecting ones talent
4. Refraining from helping others
Bases of Kants Moral Philosophy
1. Moral obligation

Moral obligation is real and strictly binding.

We simply ought to do it. (separate from

our goals and objectives)
 Bases of Kants Moral Philosophy

2. Duty

Duty refers to whatever is the right thing to

do, rather than any particular code or set of
duties that is held by any society or group.

Might entail absolutism refers to a morality

that consists in a set of exceptionless rules.
Bases of Kants Moral Philosophy

Two Types of Duty

1. Perfect Duties

2. Imperfect Duties
 Bases of Kants Moral Philosophy
1. Perfect Duties

Necessary, absolute.

First form of categorical imperative

We have a perfect duty not to do things that could
not even exist and are inconceivable as universal
practices.

Second form of categorical imperative

We have a perfect duty not to do what violates the

requirement to treat persons as persons.
 Bases of Kants Moral Philosophy
2. Imperfect duties

Meritorious, flexible

Ethical egoism refers to the view that we may rightly seek only our
own interest and help others only to the extent that this also benefits
us.

Implications:

1. When to help others and how much is a matter of choice.

2. We are persons and have moral rights and can sometimes act for
own interest.
 Variation of Kantian Moral Theory

1. W. D. Ross (1877-1971)

There are things we ought to do or not ought to do

regardless of the consequences.

Examples are our duties to keep promises, to pay

our debt, be good friends, parents, children.

When faced with conflict of moral duties, e.g., loyalty

and honesty, we can know through moral intuition in
any instance what we ought to know, or perform
prima facie or conditional duties.
 Contemporary Version of Kantian Moral Theory

2. John Rawls

Wrote about political philosophy in A Theory of Justice.

Applied Kantian principles to issues of social justice.

1. To know what is fair, we must put ourselves

imaginatively in the position of a group of free and
equal rational beings in order to develop principles of
justice. Justice is fairness.

2. Stressed the autonomy of human beings.