Kantian ethics
Overview of Kant’s philosophy
Deontological ethical theory, meaning that the morality of an action itself is right or
wrong under a series of rules, rather than based on the consequences of an action.
1. Good will is the source of moral worth - only good ‘without qualification’.
2. A good will is one which acts for the sake of duty.
3. Moral duty is the necessity of acting out of reverence for the moral law.
4. Moral laws must be universal so, as rational beings, we are morally obliged to ‘Act only according to
that maxim [rule] whereby you can at the same time will that is should become a universal law
without contradiction.’ (The categorical imperative).
How to use the categorical imperative:
1. Work out the underlying maxim.
2. 2a. Can you conceive of a world with this maxim as a law?
- If no, acting on this maxim is always wrong. You have a perfect duty not to act on it. Acting
on this maxim is always blameworthy.
- If yes:
2b. Can you rationally will that this be a universal moral law?
- If no, acting on this maxim is sometimes wrong. You have an imperfect duty not to act on it.
Acting on this maxim is sometimes blameworthy.
- If yes:
3. This maxim is morally permissible.
4. ‘Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any
other, never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end.’ (The humanity
formulation).
Good will is the source of moral worth
‘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.’
For Kant, having a good will is being driven, by duty, to act in accordance with the moral law.
A good will is one which acts for the sake of duty.
No ‘end’ that we pursue can be thought of as morally good in itself. Happiness, intelligence, money
etc can only be considered good if they are accompanied by, or result from, a good will.
Humans as imperfectly rational beings
Kant believed that, like animals, humans are driven by desires and instincts.
However, unlike animals, we can also reason. We are a mixture of reason and desires: imperfectly
rational.
Kant argues that it is reason that reveals the moral laws that we have a duty to follow. So, it is the
rational part of us that reveals how we should behave morally. On the other hand, our desires and
appetites tell us how we should behave non-morally.
Acting from desires is to act out of self-interest. Self-interested motives are subjective, particular to
the individual and often in conflict with the interest of others.
Kant believed that moral laws are objective, universal and revealed by reason.
If we were perfectly rational, we would always do the morally right thing. Likewise, if we acted on
our desires all the time, we would often do the wrong thing. We may sometimes do the right thing
Overview of Kant’s philosophy
Deontological ethical theory, meaning that the morality of an action itself is right or
wrong under a series of rules, rather than based on the consequences of an action.
1. Good will is the source of moral worth - only good ‘without qualification’.
2. A good will is one which acts for the sake of duty.
3. Moral duty is the necessity of acting out of reverence for the moral law.
4. Moral laws must be universal so, as rational beings, we are morally obliged to ‘Act only according to
that maxim [rule] whereby you can at the same time will that is should become a universal law
without contradiction.’ (The categorical imperative).
How to use the categorical imperative:
1. Work out the underlying maxim.
2. 2a. Can you conceive of a world with this maxim as a law?
- If no, acting on this maxim is always wrong. You have a perfect duty not to act on it. Acting
on this maxim is always blameworthy.
- If yes:
2b. Can you rationally will that this be a universal moral law?
- If no, acting on this maxim is sometimes wrong. You have an imperfect duty not to act on it.
Acting on this maxim is sometimes blameworthy.
- If yes:
3. This maxim is morally permissible.
4. ‘Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any
other, never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end.’ (The humanity
formulation).
Good will is the source of moral worth
‘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.’
For Kant, having a good will is being driven, by duty, to act in accordance with the moral law.
A good will is one which acts for the sake of duty.
No ‘end’ that we pursue can be thought of as morally good in itself. Happiness, intelligence, money
etc can only be considered good if they are accompanied by, or result from, a good will.
Humans as imperfectly rational beings
Kant believed that, like animals, humans are driven by desires and instincts.
However, unlike animals, we can also reason. We are a mixture of reason and desires: imperfectly
rational.
Kant argues that it is reason that reveals the moral laws that we have a duty to follow. So, it is the
rational part of us that reveals how we should behave morally. On the other hand, our desires and
appetites tell us how we should behave non-morally.
Acting from desires is to act out of self-interest. Self-interested motives are subjective, particular to
the individual and often in conflict with the interest of others.
Kant believed that moral laws are objective, universal and revealed by reason.
If we were perfectly rational, we would always do the morally right thing. Likewise, if we acted on
our desires all the time, we would often do the wrong thing. We may sometimes do the right thing
