...Kant's Categorical Imperative Deontology is the ethical view that some actions are morally forbidden or permitted regardless of consequences. One of the most influential deontological philosophers in history is Immanuel Kant who developed the idea of the Categorical Imperative. Kant believed that the only thing of intrinsic moral worth is a good will. Kant says in his work Morality and Rationality “The good will is not good because of what it affects or accomplishes or because of it’s adequacy to achieve some proposed end; it is good only because of it’s willing, i.e., it is good of itself”. A maxim is the generalized rule that characterizes the motives for a person’s actions. For Kant, a will that is good is one that is acting by the maxim of doing the right thing because it is right thing to do. The moral worth of an action is determined by whether or not it was acted upon out of respect for the moral law, or the Categorical Imperative. Imperatives in general imply something we ought to do however there is a distinction between categorical imperatives and hypothetical imperatives. Hypothetical imperatives are obligatory so long as we desire X. If we desire X we ought to do Y. However, categorical imperatives are not subject to conditions. The Categorical Imperative is universally binding to all rational creatures because they are rational. Kant proposes three formulations the Categorical Imperative in his Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Moral, the Universal Law formulation...
Words: 1540 - Pages: 7
...The Categorical Imperative Analyzing Immanuel Kant’s Grounding for A Metaphysics of Morals Anders Bordum WP 4/2002 January 2002 MPP Working Paper No. 4/2002 © January 2002 ISBN: 87-91181-06-2 ISSN: 1396-2817 Department of Management, Politics and Philosophy Copenhagen Business School Blaagaardsgade 23B DK-2200 Copenhagen N Denmark Phone: +45 38 15 36 30 Fax: +45 38 15 36 35 E-mail: as.lpf@cbs.dk www.cbs.dk/departments/mpp 2 The Categorical Imperative Analyzing Immanuel Kant's Grounding for a Metaphysics of Morals By Anders Bordum Keywords: Categorical imperative, discourse ethics, duty, ethics, monologic, dialogic, Immanuel Kant, Jürgen Habermas, self-legislation, self-reference. 3 Abstract In this article I first argue that Immanuel Kant’s conception of the categorical imperative is important to his philosophy. I systematically, though indirectly, interconnect the cognitive and moral aspects of his thinking. Second, I present an interpretation of the Kantian ethics, taking as my point of departure, the concept of the categorical imperative. Finally, I show how the categorical imperative is given a dialogical interpretation by Jürgen Habermas in his approach, usually referred to as discourse ethics. I argue that the dialogical approach taken by discourse ethics is more justifiable and therefore more usefuli. I The Synthesis of Rationalism and Empiricism The philosophy of Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) is in the main inspired...
Words: 10855 - Pages: 44
...What does Kant mean by the “categorical imperative? Kants claims that an action is right if it conforms to a moral rule. The rules that we consider right or wrong is what Kant calls categorical imperative. (an imperative that Kant expresses as requiring that a person must never perform an act unless he or she can consistently determine that the maxim or rule that motivated the action could become a universal law. If there is deemed to be a universal law that any human being can interpret then this would constitute a categorical or exceptionless imperative. Kant also discussed a second formulation of categorical imperative which is just as important as the first formation. This would be to treat people as ends in themselves and never merely as means. An example of this is to acknowledge teachers, parents, and educators rather than assuming that their services are expected. For Kant, the morally important thing is not consequences but the way choosers think when they make choices. Kant says that only one kind of thing is inherently good, and that is the good will. What makes the will good? The will is good when it acts out of duty, not out of inclination. What does it mean to act out of inclination? To do something because it makes you feel good or because you hope to gain something from it. What does it mean to act out of duty? Kant says this means that we should act from respect for the moral law. How do we do that? We must know what the moral law is. How...
Words: 436 - Pages: 2
...The categorical imperative tells us to act according to maxims we can want as universal laws. A maxim always contains the reasons according to which someone acts; In the previous examples, the reasons are to recover energy, avoid sanctions, maintain a good reputation and respect others. What the categorical imperative does is tell us if our reasons for action are good or bad. The principle will tell us that maintaining a good reputation is a bad reason to keep promises and that doing it out of respect for others is a good reason. So, keeping promises, for example, is not a well-formed maxim because it does not specify the reasons someone has to act in this way. I must mention, however, that Kant's exposition is not perfectly clear and consistent...
Words: 319 - Pages: 2
...Morality is derived from rationality and all moral judgments are rationally supported. So such as rational thought leads us to an objective reality, so too is there an objective morality we can locate through the same process. The categorical imperative is an absolute non-negotiable, universal moral law that holds up regardless of the circumstance. What is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. Many maxims approach categorical imperatives as one of two answers. One such maxim I derived is that a little evil now can prevent untold evil later. This maxim, little evil now can prevent untold evil later, has qualities of a categorical imperative that apply to many lives, while also leaning towards the ultimatum of being a hypothetical imperative....
Words: 657 - Pages: 3
...In the Kantian perspective, the moral foundations are based on deontological background and a priori. Deontology is founded on the basis that the morality of an action is determined by the rules governing people’s duties to one another as human beings. Kant believed that these duties were derived non-empirically from reason within itself (making these duties binding towards everyone equally independent of each person’s experience). The foundation of Kant’s moral law is called the Categorical Imperative which calls for the respect for humanity towards others and oneself regardless of circumstances. To further the belief of his moral perspective, Kant provides three versions of the Categorical Imperative in three separate formulas: the Formula of Universal Law, Formula of Humanity as...
Words: 1381 - Pages: 6
...Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative appears to be a solid ethical foundation; however, there are major issues that cannot be resolved by moral absolutes. I will demonstrate how Kant’s arguments are invalidated by the fact that they cannot be generalized. Kant contemplated ethics and morality in context of duty; his logical argument progressed to a universal maxim, the “categorical imperative.” Duty-based ethics ascribe greater moral value to actions performed without regard to inclination, as opposed to a sense of personal gain. Kant insisted only good will was good without qualification, because good intention could breed bad results, and bad intention could result in goodness; therefore subjectively comparing good and bad were problematic when it came to universality. A related factor is the value on human dignity and autonomy; Kant emphasized that lying was always morally wrong, because it removed the intrinsic human value of free, rational choice. Respecting that value in oneself and others was the ethical option (Mazur, 1993). Kant’s categorical imperative stated: “I should never act except in such a way that I can also will that my maxim should become a...
Words: 600 - Pages: 3
...explain the relationship between humans. He believed that if humans were to lie all the time, nothing anyone said would hold any value and no written documents would ever be a trustworthy source of information because no-one would be able to trust anyone else. This would ensure the fall of human beings, because a society built upon distrust would never thrive. So, to Kant, honesty was one of the most important parts of a human’s duty that could never be compromised in any situation for fear of destroying the human race. This absolute dedication to reliability of the truth all relates to Kant’s development of the absolutist theory that became the categorical imperative. This theory focuses on creating a universal law, applicable to everyone, whose sole purpose centres around reason rather than personal feelings. The categorical imperative is a concept in which the question is not ‘how do I feel about this specific incident?’ or ‘what is the best thing to do in...
Words: 504 - Pages: 3
...Costumbres en disputa. Los muiscas y el Imperio español en Ubaque, siglo XVI. Santiago Muñoz Arbeláez’s work demonstrates convincingly that there is still much to be learned and written about the Spanish conquest of America. In his desire to deepen our understanding of a particular colonial society the author presents a detailed study of the institution of the encomienda in the Muisca valley of Ubaque in the Andes southeast of Santa Fé de Bogotá. This focused analysis allows him to comment upon the 16th century Spanish imperial project, and to compare that Hispanic context to other Atlantic systems, as he explores the interactions between particular native leaders caciques, the encomenderos who were granted access to tribute in the valley, and the colonial church and state. To achieve this, he focuses upon the colonial reorganization of geographic spaces and landscapes, the evolution of a colonial economy in the valley and its eventual integration into the Atlantic economy, the ways in which the Muisca used the colonial legal system, and the various identities that were created through the conversion project. In focusing on the 16th century and a particular institution and place he engages several literatures to contextualize the interdisciplinary methodologies and approaches he uses to reveal the cultural variables that exerted influence on the elaboration of early colonial society in Nueva Granada. Concentrating upon the functioning of encomienda and using a broad range...
Words: 546 - Pages: 3
...Abortion and the Categorical Imperative: Refusing an abortion to a pregnant woman who does not wish to bear a child violates the principle that one must always treat other human beings as an ends, never only as a means. By refusing abortion, the pregnant woman would be treated as a means, and even if the fetus were considered human, it would be treated as a means as well. Denying access to abortion treats the pregnant woman as a means. Many arguments against abortion involve a concern for protecting the rights of the fetus. But by prohibiting the pregnant woman from having an abortion, she is being treated as a means by which to bring another human being into existence. Telling her that she has no choice but to have the baby is essentially treating her as a vessel by which a life is to be born out of, rather than a human being with the right to decide whether or not she should bring a new life into the world. Callahan discussed how embryonic life can only exist from a woman’s participation in the genetic inheritance of the human species as a whole (1. Callahan, Reader, pg. 17). In other words, the woman’s baby is her contribution to the genetic inheritance of the human species as a whole. Callahan would argue that in having the baby regardless of whether she wanted it or not, she is acting according to the categorical imperative in that she is acting for humankind and not in anticipation of her own well-being or cost-benefit (2. Callahan, Reader, pg. 17). However...
Words: 1835 - Pages: 8
...to heal the damaged society. As V takes on the totalitarianism society run by the British Government, he displays to Kant’s theories that he is the opposite. Although his morals might be in the right place, he continuously uses others to meet the ends of his own means, which directly goes against Kant’s categorical imperative. Along with this, V’s revenge seeking mission goes against another maxim Kant put on his categorical imperative. This is the ‘universality’ maxim. If everyone were doing what V was doing the entire time, many more people would have been killed as well as they are would be no conflict in the first place. What the ‘party’ or the government of Great Britain has been doing the entire time would have never have occurred if they were all fighting the party like V was. V goes against every bit of Kant’s categorical imperative and justifies his own ends through other peoples will. V doesn’t force anyone to do anything in V for Vendetta but rather offers him or her a question of joining or opposing his ways. Sussman 2 As the film progresses, V just shows us how much he actually opposes the guidelines of Kant’s first maxim in his theory of the categorical imperative. The first maxim being universality, V shows the audience that he is the only one who can be doing this and no one else would have the bloodthirsty passion that runs through his veins. V being the one who survived the horrific fire back when the labs, and cells went a blaze, has the burning passion to seek and...
Words: 1112 - Pages: 5
...CRACK Should women addicted to crack be able to have children? Barbara Harris says no. Harris has adopted four children from a drug addict. She has also founded CRACK (Children Requiring A Caring Kommunity) a non-profit organization that offers $200 in cash to addicts who agree to be sterilized or undergo long-term contraception like Norplant, which is surgically imbedded under the skin. In this essay I will be discussing what the ethical dilemma is, who the stakeholders are in this ethical dilemma, analyzing the problem by reference to the categorical imperative, analyzing the problem from a Kantian and utilitarian standpoint and giving my overall opinion of this matter. As I understand it the ethical dilemma here is the procedure in itself. Some are saying that the women are doing it for the money to buy more drugs. Also, saying that it takes away women rights to reproduce. Physicians and attorneys are saying that the women are in no condition to consent to being sterilized. They say that because these women are mentally ill and poor they are not capable of making their own decisions. But Barbara Harris from her own experiences says that women addicted to crack do not need to have babies. These women are bringing babies into the world addicted to crack. She tells of a story of how she adopted four children from a crack addicted woman. One of the children would wake up screaming in the middle of the night. She says it looked like his eyes were about to pop out of his head...
Words: 1057 - Pages: 5
...Most of the times in our life, there are certain acts that we should do and should not do. We usually determine our morality by the consequences of our actions. However, this does not apply to a theory called “deontology”, which was introduced by Immanuel Kant. This theory is more focused on what the people do, not the consequences of their actions. In other words, the people have a duty to act accordingly to the Categorical Imperatives, despite the fact that the actions will cause good or bad results (Bbc.co.uk, 2014). There are 3 formulations of the categorical imperative, which are the obligation to do our duty; our duty is derived by reason; and that reason gives rise to the need to observe categorical imperatives. In order to find out if things are categorical imperatives, Kant offers three principles for us to consider, such as the formula of universal law, the formula of the end in itself, and the formula of universal acceptability (Yount, n.d.). If the actions fail one or more of these tests, they should be avoided. In this essay, I am going to use Kant’s deontology principals to argue and to find out the solutions of the case of the confectionary company. The main issue in this case is that the children do not experience pleasure in their childhood. BIBLIOGRAPHY Bbc.co.uk. (2014). Duty-based ethics. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/introduction/duty_1.shtml [Accessed 9 Jul. 2016]. Yount, D. (n.d.). IMMANUEL KANT’S...
Words: 287 - Pages: 2
...from God, from human origins and nature, or from human reason. Instead of asking whether an action will result in a particular type of consequence, either good or bad, as is the case with utilitarianism and social contract, deontologists ask whether an action is consistent with a particular principle or rule. In Module 5, we studied the ethical deontological categorical imperative of Immanuel Kant. Kant does not believe the authority for duty-driven activity is God. Kant believes that human will is the highest authority. He believes this “highest authority" emanates from the use of human reason. In short, Perhaps Kant’s “duty” is not as absolute as one might suppose. Human ordained moral action is often subject to change according to personal preference. For Kant, the moral action conforms to a law of human origin and is absolute—it admits no exceptions, and it is universally binding. One is obligated to follow the commands of morality, whether one feels like it or not and despite personal consequences. One simply must follow the command out of respect for human reason. This forms the basis of Kant’s Categorical Imperative– if one can do the right thing, one...
Words: 391 - Pages: 2
...experience, but requires sense experience for final verification but it may be true or false. His theory basically explains that all humans must do their duty, without the need for experience. Kant believed in right or wrong based on reason, he relies on intuitions or facts. For Kant, practical reason looks at the evidence and the argument, he says it cannot depend on external factors. For his own ethical theory, only good will counts. Good will is at the very centre of ethics, the person is a free moral agent and not one that had to be told what to do. Kant’s ethical theory consists of 2 categories, hypothetical and categorical imperatives. The hypothetical ones involve reaching specific targets or goals. Such as you have a choice of one thing or another. Kant says you cannot link morality to hypothetical imperatives just categorical ones. A categorical imperative is one without the use of conditions, e.g....
Words: 732 - Pages: 3
