...Name: Hoang Nguyen Period: 2+3 Date: 05/18/18 Immanuel Kant’s Philosophy ~~~Moral is reason~~~ The main claim of Immanuel Kant is that morality come from reasoning (crash course). A thing is moral because it a right thing to do - the existence of itself is already consider good - , not because it has a good consequence. As an alternative way to put this, if a thing is acknowledged as rationally good, it is moral. So how do we know it is rationally good like Kant said? I will discuss about it later on. But first, you have to know why we must live according to that moral law. Can’t we do the bad thing if we want? Agreeing with Kant’s argument, we can’t, it is our duty to fulfil it. He reasoned all living thing ( except human ) always act...
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...Immanuel Kant A Famous Philosopher 10/21/2012 Kelley Huttar Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804): Immanuel Kant was a modern day German deontologist from Prussia and became one of history’s most famous Philosophers. A deontologist is someone who believes in acts that are strictly right or wrong. Kant was an influential thinker and one of the last philosophers of the Enlightenment era. However his work in epistemology (the study of knowledge) and theology (the study of religion) are still influential to current philosophers of our time. He was also known for his beliefs in ethics and his knowledge in astronomy. Kant was an independent person, meaning he did not let others influence his way of thought. He created his own moral values and acted alone in his findings and did not look for outside criticism. He believed that other people’s emotions and view towards a subject could impact one’s moral values and behavior. He was admired by his friends for this quality, and because of this he became famous for the concept known as the categorical imperative (Evers). Theory Developed and Its Example: Categorical Imperative: Kant developed a theory on morality that is known as the categorical imperative. This theory implies that one should only act on his or her own morals. Kant believed a person has a duty to be moral in every sense as he believed this was a moral requirement. He also believed that an action one takes must be moral enough for the entire universe to agree...
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...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 ETHICAL THEORY RIGHTS AND DUTIES. [online] Available at: http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/BUS205-11.3.2-Immanuel-Kants-Ethical-Theory.pdf [Accessed 9 Jul....
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...Trident University International Module 1 Case Assignment ETH 501: Business Ethics Dr. Mark Friske 24 November 2013 Introduction Adelphia Communications, one of the largest cable companies is the country at the time, is defunct as of 2006 due to multiple unethical decisions by the Rigas family. Any business, if subjected to unethical decision making to this extent, would be destined for failure and Adelphia Communications is no exception. The two main unethical actions that are highlighted are lying and stealing. Were these actions justified, deontologically speaking? How does Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative apply to these two unethical actions in a business scenario? The Scandal Adelphia was a cable television company formed in 1952 by John Rigas and two other partners. John Rigas eventually bought out the partners of the company and grew the business with his brother and sons making it a family business. In 1986 the company became publically listed and eventually became the fifth largest cable company in the United States before it filed for bankruptcy in 2002 due to internal corruption. One example of the internal corruption at Adelphia was the accounting techniques that were used by the Rigas family. Billions of dollars in debt and liabilities were hidden from the public and off of the financial reports to make the company appear in better shape than it actually was. The former cable television company also would alter the amount...
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...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...
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...Introduction The purpose of this case assignment centers on the examination of the how the Adelphia Communications’ executives violated the trust of the company’s shareholders and the trust of the community through the analytical view of deontological ethics. This analysis will be achieved by defining deontological ethics and Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative. A review of the Adelphia Communications Scandal will be conducted with a general assessment of what ethical issues were present based on deontological ethics and Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative. The Adelphia Communications Scandal The Adelphia Communications Corporation was the sixth largest provider of cable services in the United States prior to filing bankruptcy in 2002 due to a major accounting scandal. Adelphia’s management intentionally misled investors by falsifying financial statements to give the appearance the organization was financially solid and performing well above normal, by excluding billions of dollars of debt from financial statements. The auditors fail to find any fraudulent action in the financial statements. John Rigas was the original founder of the corporation and later joined with his brother and sons. The Adelphia Communications Corporation (investors) provided over $2.3 billion worth of personal loans to the Rigas family. The Rigas family received assets via fund transfers from the Adelphia Communications Corporation through journal entries to purchase...
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...John Stuart Mill vs. Immanuel Kant The aim of this paper is to clearly depict how John Stuart Mill’s belief to do good for all is more appropriate for our society than Immanuel Kant’s principle that it is better to do what's morally just. I will explain why Mill’s theory served as a better guide to moral behavior and differentiate between the rights and responsibilities of human beings to themselves and society. Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill are philosophers who addressed the issues of morality in terms of how moral customs are formed. Immanuel Kant presented one perspective in The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals that is founded on his belief that the worth of man is inherent in his skill to reason. John Stuart Mill holds another belief as presented in the book, Utilitarianism, which is seemingly conflicting with the thoughts of Kant. What is most unique about the ethics of morality is the idea of responsibilities to particular individuals. According to both Mill and Kant, moral obligations are not fundamentally particularistic because they are rooted in universal moral principles. Both philosophers have made great impacts in their niche areas in the field. An analysis of their theories may help develop a better understanding of them and their theories. Mill holds an empiricist theory while Kant holds a rationalist theory. Kant explains morality through forms that he believes are essential to free and sensible judgment. Mill’s utilitarian approach...
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...Dr. Bonnie Adams January 23, 2015 Deontological Ethics is defined as a person must act a certain way for no other reason than because it is the right way to act. In which a way, that a person should act a certain way because it is my duty to do so. Acting on morals, they are either right or wrong on principal and we have a duty to do well no matter the circumstance. The philosopher Immanuel Kant laid the ground rules as to how a person should act called Categorical Imperative. Categorical Imperative is defined as acting only on that maxim through which you can at the same time, that it should become a universal law (Pecorino, P.A., 2000). What Kant is saying is that everybody should act the same way because it is the duty to do so. It should fit the criterial with the rest of the duties of that law. In this paper I will discuss a business ethics problem in which I have had personal experience with and analyze it using deontological ethics. Secondly, I will describe the deontological implications of the ethical problem. Lastly, I will describe how Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative applies to the business ethical problem I have experienced. After working 14 out my 30 years of life, I have experienced more than a handful of unethical problems in the workforce. One that stands out to me the most is stealing from the workplace. Although I have not personally experience this, I have caught the act of stealing first hand. Working in electronics retail, stealing happens...
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...CONTEMPORARY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE Immanuel Kant and Euthanasia Euthanasia is defined the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. The topic of whether euthanasia is morally or ethical wrong has been argued for decades. In those arguments, philosopher Immanuel Kant’s theories have always been cited. Based on Kant’s Deontology theory, the outcome of an action is not relevant to morality; the only right thing is to do what reason dictates. His categorical imperative states: Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law” (McLachlan, 2009, p70.). Thus as a rational being, man cannot to formulate a maxim to give other’s right to take his life because of he is in a terrible condition. This kind of maxim will not form a universal law thus it should be removed and replaced with a more reasonable maxim. If we will such maxim, we will end in hypothetical imperative not categorical. In addition, Kant explained the practical imperative further in his categorical imperative second formulation: “act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end and never as a means only” (McLachlan, 2009, p73.). Thus, if humanity is an end, no man has the right to take his life even in whatever condition he finds himself Overall, Kant’s theory is very influential in the argument of euthanasia ethical issues. Based on...
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...Utilitarianism and Kant’s Categorical Imperative The issues of morality are most clearly expressed through examples of different methods of analyzing a situation. The case of Holmes, an officer in charge of a sinking ship, shows the striking differences between philosopher Immanuel Kant’s beliefs and those of the Utilitarians. After Holmes’ ship sinks, there are twenty passengers in a lifeboat that is only meant to hold fourteen people. There was no time to send out a signal for help before the ship sank, so no rescue is guaranteed and the nearest land is fifteen hundred miles away. Holmes decides to force the wounded passengers and those wearing life jackets off of the lifeboat and make his way to shore without them. This action can be described as either moral or immoral depending on the way morality is perceived. One perspective on morality is that of the Utilitarian view. Utilitarianism states that an act is morally right in proportion as it tends to secure the greatest utility, pleasure, or happiness for the greatest number; wrong as it tends to produce disutility, pain, or unhappiness. This means that what is morally right can be decided by what action will create the most pleasure for the most people. It can be said that Utilitarians “measure” each deciding factor to determine what is morally right, as if it were part of a mathematical formula. The values of different sources of pleasure and pain can be based on many considerations including: intensity, duration...
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...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...
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...The Groundwork of Metaphysics of Morals Immanuel Kant’s “Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals”, argues upon the basis of morality introducing the ideals of the categorical imperative as the central concept of moral philosophy. The definition of the categorical imperative leads Kant towards the critique of pure reason arguing that without a goodwill one can’t even be worthy of being happy. Kant introduces goodwill, treating people as means rather than ends and doing the right thing for the right reason. Making a distinction between science and knowledge and eliminating common sense on a route to the philosophical, Kant defines reason as reason a practical faculty to influence will and also being essential to will. Kant argument in the Groundwork focuses upon the basic idea of what makes a good person good. It is the possession of a will that is a way determined by, or makes decision based of moral law. This goodwill is supposed to be the idea of one who only makes decisions that she holds to be morally worthy, taking moral considerations in themselves to be conclusive reasons for guiding her behavior. This sort of disposition or character is something we all highly value. Kant believes we value it without limitation or qualification. Formulated by pure reason, the categorical imperative according to Kant underscores his argument. The value of a good will thus cannot be that it secures certain valuable ends, whether of our own or of others, since there value is entirely...
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...Explain Kant’s distinction between a hypothetical imperative and a categorical imperative. Why does Kant think that all moral commands are categorical rather than hypothetical? What does it mean to act from a good will? Do you agree or disagree with Kant that only actions performed from a good will have moral value? Immanuel Kant Imperatives are commands in which Kant distinguishes between hypothetical and categorical imperatives. A hypothetical imperative is one that is relative. It takes the form of “If this, then that.” (333) This kind of imperative is not universal or absolute since they are conditioned on a relevant desire or greater achievement out of one’s self-interest. On the other hand, a categorical imperative deals with universalizability and strips away the emotions that bind a hypothetical imperative. Kant uses a formula in order to determine if an imperative is categorical. “Act as if the maxim of thy action were to become a universal law of nature.” (334) Kant suggests that if the command can be made a rule for all of mankind then it is categorical since this would make it universally binding. Kant thinks that all moral commands are categorical rather than hypothetical because only when one is motivated by morality can he have moral worth. This is because morality is not fixed in consequences that may arise, however, it is out of a person’s duty to fulfill that job regardless of their emotional state or desires, which defies a hypothetical imperative. To act...
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...Turning to the next voice of reasoning and theories of ethics is that of philosopher Immanuel Kant. Immanuel Kant’s theory pertains to good will, which is based on the premise that an individual is superior, if the superior will of the individual exists and is a result of choices being made due an obligation of superior morals resulting in how that individual behaves (Johnson & Cureton, 2017). Essentially this can be thought of as, an individual is good and presents good will if it is based one’s commitment of good morals. Furthermore, Kant also offers the reasoning that good will is something that does not need any qualifications. Kant’s reasoning is that regardless of a situation an individual finds themselves in, good will is still be present because it is embodied in the individual and not the circumstance (Van Camp, 2014). Opposite of this perspective is the actual actions that cannot be consistently good in all situations if an individual means them bad and has ill...
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...Immanuel Kant defines duty as the recognition of a moral obligation to do what is right, 100% of the time, regardless of what could come of it. Also, Kant states that in order for an act to be wholly moral, it must be carried out by a sense of duty. This type of obligation termed by Kant is called the “categorical imperative.” The categorical imperative, according to Kant, acts as a basis to which moral requirements stem from. The categorical imperative also equates to Catholicism’s’ “golden rule” in that they both call for treating human beings as ends, not as means. Duty, according to Kant, has four motives, self-interest, self-preservation, sympathy, and happiness. Kant goes on to explain that we all have a sense of moral duty that is innate in us at birth. When we have feelings of guilt, this is the end result when we have done something that has infringed this moral duty. To Kant, to act moral is to obey the moral laws, which are in us at birth, which is our duty. For example, giving a beggar money for the soul purpose of getting he or she to leave you alone is not an example of a moral duty according to Kant. Instead, he believes that a more genuine example would be someone who gives the beggar money regardless of his or her own self interest, for a reason that does not benefit him or her in any way. If a person acts in a way that benefits others while also benefiting themselves, they are not acting truly moral according to Kant’s definition. For example, doctors help...
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