,SUS1501 Assignment 2 (COMPLETE ANSWERS)
Semester 1 2025 - DUE March 2025..we wish you all the
best
1. BACKGROUND FACTS
“In the first 6 months of 2024, the six wealthiest men in South
Africa gained on average R77
million per day each.” My personal opinion on this statement is
most closely described by:
a. Good for them – they worked hard to earn this.
b. The only problem I have with this is that it wasn’t me earning
R77 million a day.
c. No problem with this. I'm sure all of these billionaires donate
huge amounts to charities
d. I think that it is morally wrong for anyone to earn that much
money.
e. I think that active steps should be taken to correct such
immoral earnings.”
In this assignment we are going to zoom in on option “a”
specifically: “Good for them – they
worked hard to earn this”. What this option is basically saying
is, that the earnings of these
, billionaires are completely reasonable and justifiable?
What we want you to do in this assignment is to examine this
option (i.e. someone, perhaps
even you, taking R 77 million a day for 6 months) from the
perspective of Kant’s formula of
universal law version of the categorical imperative.
Kant’s Formula of Universal Law from the categorical
imperative and apply it to the statement “Good for them –
they worked hard to earn this” regarding the earning of R77
million per day by billionaires in South Africa. We’ll go step-
by-step to break down this analysis in detail.
1. Understanding Kant’s Formula of Universal Law
Immanuel Kant’s Formula of Universal Law is part of his
broader categorical imperative, which is a fundamental moral
principle. The categorical imperative guides us in determining
what actions are morally right by asking us to evaluate whether
the action we are considering could be a universal law that
everyone in similar situations would follow.
The Formula of Universal Law specifically states:
“Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same
time will that it should become a universal law.”
This means that when we are about to make a decision or take
an action, we must ask ourselves if the principle behind it could
be universally applied to everyone without causing a
contradiction or harm to society.
Semester 1 2025 - DUE March 2025..we wish you all the
best
1. BACKGROUND FACTS
“In the first 6 months of 2024, the six wealthiest men in South
Africa gained on average R77
million per day each.” My personal opinion on this statement is
most closely described by:
a. Good for them – they worked hard to earn this.
b. The only problem I have with this is that it wasn’t me earning
R77 million a day.
c. No problem with this. I'm sure all of these billionaires donate
huge amounts to charities
d. I think that it is morally wrong for anyone to earn that much
money.
e. I think that active steps should be taken to correct such
immoral earnings.”
In this assignment we are going to zoom in on option “a”
specifically: “Good for them – they
worked hard to earn this”. What this option is basically saying
is, that the earnings of these
, billionaires are completely reasonable and justifiable?
What we want you to do in this assignment is to examine this
option (i.e. someone, perhaps
even you, taking R 77 million a day for 6 months) from the
perspective of Kant’s formula of
universal law version of the categorical imperative.
Kant’s Formula of Universal Law from the categorical
imperative and apply it to the statement “Good for them –
they worked hard to earn this” regarding the earning of R77
million per day by billionaires in South Africa. We’ll go step-
by-step to break down this analysis in detail.
1. Understanding Kant’s Formula of Universal Law
Immanuel Kant’s Formula of Universal Law is part of his
broader categorical imperative, which is a fundamental moral
principle. The categorical imperative guides us in determining
what actions are morally right by asking us to evaluate whether
the action we are considering could be a universal law that
everyone in similar situations would follow.
The Formula of Universal Law specifically states:
“Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same
time will that it should become a universal law.”
This means that when we are about to make a decision or take
an action, we must ask ourselves if the principle behind it could
be universally applied to everyone without causing a
contradiction or harm to society.
