Professor Unna
PHIL 1105 AA
21 September 2020
Kant’s Groundwork Pt. 2
Groundwork 85-96 :
1. What is Kant’s explanation of the will on p. 87?
Kant describes the will as something that gives us motive to act. The will uses reason to give us motives, and without reason, uses impulses. 2. What is an imperative?
An imperative according to Kant is “expressed by an ought” (Kant 87). Will derives from imperatives. 3. a) What kinds of imperatives are there, and b) what are their characteristics?
There are three kinds of imperatives: 1.Hypothetical- “declare a possible action to be practically necessary as a means of attainment of something else that one wills (wants) or that one may will” (Kant 89).
a.Hypothetical is the action is good in a means to something else
2.Categorically- “represented an action as objectively necessary in itself apart from its relation to a further end” (Kant 89). a.Categorical is when the action is represented as good in itself b.Will accords with reason
c.Rooted in principle
d.Happiness is chief end
3.Morality - type of categorical – not concerned with the matter of the action, only the results. BOTH are a formula to determine what action is necessary in accordance with the principle of will in some sense of good (Kant 89). Imperatives are sometimes called technical, concerned with art, pragmatic, concerned with wellbeing, and moral, concerned with morals. Groundwork 96-109 :
1. What are the three different formulations of the universal law?
1.Hypothetical imperative- formula unknown until the condition is given. 2.Categorical imperative- “act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law” (Kant 97). 3.Universal law- “as the maxim of your action were to become through your will a universal law of nature” (Kant 97).
2. What is the difference between a person and a thing?
PHIL 1105 AA
21 September 2020
Kant’s Groundwork Pt. 2
Groundwork 85-96 :
1. What is Kant’s explanation of the will on p. 87?
Kant describes the will as something that gives us motive to act. The will uses reason to give us motives, and without reason, uses impulses. 2. What is an imperative?
An imperative according to Kant is “expressed by an ought” (Kant 87). Will derives from imperatives. 3. a) What kinds of imperatives are there, and b) what are their characteristics?
There are three kinds of imperatives: 1.Hypothetical- “declare a possible action to be practically necessary as a means of attainment of something else that one wills (wants) or that one may will” (Kant 89).
a.Hypothetical is the action is good in a means to something else
2.Categorically- “represented an action as objectively necessary in itself apart from its relation to a further end” (Kant 89). a.Categorical is when the action is represented as good in itself b.Will accords with reason
c.Rooted in principle
d.Happiness is chief end
3.Morality - type of categorical – not concerned with the matter of the action, only the results. BOTH are a formula to determine what action is necessary in accordance with the principle of will in some sense of good (Kant 89). Imperatives are sometimes called technical, concerned with art, pragmatic, concerned with wellbeing, and moral, concerned with morals. Groundwork 96-109 :
1. What are the three different formulations of the universal law?
1.Hypothetical imperative- formula unknown until the condition is given. 2.Categorical imperative- “act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law” (Kant 97). 3.Universal law- “as the maxim of your action were to become through your will a universal law of nature” (Kant 97).
2. What is the difference between a person and a thing?
