a LEVEL
KANTIAN ETHICS
PHILOSOPHY
& ETHICS GOOD WILL DUTY
An action is only good, Kant maintained, when a person acts from a To Kant, all humans must be seen as inherently worthy of respect and
sense of good will. For example, if a young man is helping an old man dignity. He argued that all morality must stem from such duties: a duty
across the road – the action is only good if the young man has chosen based on a deontological ethic. Consequences such as pain or pleasure are
to act out of a sense of good will towards another human being. In irrelevant. Kant rejected the idea of happiness or contentment as the
Kant’s opinion, good will is the only pure motive ‘…it is impossible to basis of morality- morality is more important than the selfish desire for
conceive of anything at all in the world, or even out of it, which can personal happiness. Kant regarded philosophers that try to turn happiness
be taken as good without qualification, except good will’. into a higher value as no better than those who view morality as ‘eat,
drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die’.
THE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE CONT...
The categorical imperative is a command to do acts that are good in itself, You must whether it is logically for everybody to act like this and whether you
regardless of its consequences. Quite simply it says: ‘You should do this.’ Here, would rationally want everybody to act this way. Formula of the end in itself:
Kant has a universal principle that could apply to everyone at all times. Kant Act that you treat humanity, both in your own person and in the person of
broke the categorical imperative down into smaller rules, which he called maxims, every other human being, never merely as a means, but always at the same
to further define it. Formula of the law of nature: Act only according to that times as an end. Formula of the kingdom of ends: Act as if (you are) a legislating
maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. member in the universal kingdom of ends. The kingdom of ends is a society made
of people, all of whom are entitled to be treated as ends and not means.
THE HYPOTHETICAL IMPERATIVE SUMMUM BONUM
THE THREE POSTULATES
The hypothetical imperative is a rule of conduct that is
Freedom – for Kant, if I am to act morally then Kant referred to the highest good as the
understood to apply to an individual only if he or she desires a
I must be capable of exercising freedom or summum bonum. The highest good was the best
certain end and has chosen (willed) to act on that desire. Because
autonomy of the will. Immortality – the highest possible good and he saw this as comprising of
Kant was searching for an absolute moral rule, what he defined as
good (summum bonum) cannot be achieved in this virtue and happiness. he desired state of
the hypothetical imperative was no use because these judgements
life so there has to be a life after death where affairs in which human beings are both virtuous
were not connected with morals and they were dependent on
we are immortal. God – if there is a life after and happy is called by Kant the summum bonum
outcome. It is useful to remember that a hypothetical imperative
death there has to be a God. (highest good). This we recognise to be what
will begin ‘If I do this…then this will happen.’ This is teleological.
ought to happen.
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
Main strengths of Kantian Ethics: Kantian ethics is clear and easy to follow. Its Main weaknesses of Kantian Ethics: It is not always easily applied to moral
absolutist, deontological nature makes it easier to apply than other ethical theories. situations – it tells you what types of actions are good, but it does not tell you
Kant states that we should treat people as "an end in themselves" so Kantian ethics puts what is the right thing to do in particular situations. A major difficulty for
everyone on equal ground, correcting the utilitarian assumption that the minority can Kant’s theory is that it seems that not every universal maxim is a moral one. It
suffer so long as the majority are happy. Also, Kant sees humans as being of intrinsic could be trivial or amoral. This shows that not every maxim that passes his test
worth and dignity as they are rational creatures. of universalisability is a duty.
KANTIAN ETHICS
PHILOSOPHY
& ETHICS GOOD WILL DUTY
An action is only good, Kant maintained, when a person acts from a To Kant, all humans must be seen as inherently worthy of respect and
sense of good will. For example, if a young man is helping an old man dignity. He argued that all morality must stem from such duties: a duty
across the road – the action is only good if the young man has chosen based on a deontological ethic. Consequences such as pain or pleasure are
to act out of a sense of good will towards another human being. In irrelevant. Kant rejected the idea of happiness or contentment as the
Kant’s opinion, good will is the only pure motive ‘…it is impossible to basis of morality- morality is more important than the selfish desire for
conceive of anything at all in the world, or even out of it, which can personal happiness. Kant regarded philosophers that try to turn happiness
be taken as good without qualification, except good will’. into a higher value as no better than those who view morality as ‘eat,
drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die’.
THE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE CONT...
The categorical imperative is a command to do acts that are good in itself, You must whether it is logically for everybody to act like this and whether you
regardless of its consequences. Quite simply it says: ‘You should do this.’ Here, would rationally want everybody to act this way. Formula of the end in itself:
Kant has a universal principle that could apply to everyone at all times. Kant Act that you treat humanity, both in your own person and in the person of
broke the categorical imperative down into smaller rules, which he called maxims, every other human being, never merely as a means, but always at the same
to further define it. Formula of the law of nature: Act only according to that times as an end. Formula of the kingdom of ends: Act as if (you are) a legislating
maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. member in the universal kingdom of ends. The kingdom of ends is a society made
of people, all of whom are entitled to be treated as ends and not means.
THE HYPOTHETICAL IMPERATIVE SUMMUM BONUM
THE THREE POSTULATES
The hypothetical imperative is a rule of conduct that is
Freedom – for Kant, if I am to act morally then Kant referred to the highest good as the
understood to apply to an individual only if he or she desires a
I must be capable of exercising freedom or summum bonum. The highest good was the best
certain end and has chosen (willed) to act on that desire. Because
autonomy of the will. Immortality – the highest possible good and he saw this as comprising of
Kant was searching for an absolute moral rule, what he defined as
good (summum bonum) cannot be achieved in this virtue and happiness. he desired state of
the hypothetical imperative was no use because these judgements
life so there has to be a life after death where affairs in which human beings are both virtuous
were not connected with morals and they were dependent on
we are immortal. God – if there is a life after and happy is called by Kant the summum bonum
outcome. It is useful to remember that a hypothetical imperative
death there has to be a God. (highest good). This we recognise to be what
will begin ‘If I do this…then this will happen.’ This is teleological.
ought to happen.
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
Main strengths of Kantian Ethics: Kantian ethics is clear and easy to follow. Its Main weaknesses of Kantian Ethics: It is not always easily applied to moral
absolutist, deontological nature makes it easier to apply than other ethical theories. situations – it tells you what types of actions are good, but it does not tell you
Kant states that we should treat people as "an end in themselves" so Kantian ethics puts what is the right thing to do in particular situations. A major difficulty for
everyone on equal ground, correcting the utilitarian assumption that the minority can Kant’s theory is that it seems that not every universal maxim is a moral one. It
suffer so long as the majority are happy. Also, Kant sees humans as being of intrinsic could be trivial or amoral. This shows that not every maxim that passes his test
worth and dignity as they are rational creatures. of universalisability is a duty.
