...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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...In Favor Of Kant 3/17/13 As per reading this assignment, one can already tell how complicated the situation is. How can I prevent an upheaval in my town by not finding the actual murderer but framing an innocent homeless man who is oblivious to the entire situation prior to entering the town? How can this be justified? Should the idea of framing someone innocent even be thought of? Having two philosophers in mind, Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill, I immediately distinguish the theories and arguments and come to a conclusion which I think will justify this difficult case. I shall argue in favor of Immanuel Kant that that the homeless man should not be arrested and framed and why Mill’s theory of Utilitarianism doesn’t apply to this case. Immanuel Kant observed the world around him and realized that everyone despite different cultures or religions obeyed a specific kind of moral law. For Kant, an action can only be correct, if it is the taken out of duty. He believed that the rightness or wrongness of actions does not depend on their consequences but on whether they act on moral duty. We all have a duty, and those duties should obey the supreme principal which is the categorical imperative. These are duties that we ought to do because they are unconditional commands. The universal law formulation explains that one should act on maxim through which can become a universal law in nature if it applies to each and every person in society. Everyone should conform to an...
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...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 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...
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...Aristotle and Kant were both brilliant philosophers, who each strongly supported and believed in their own arguments. They were similar in their approach to ethics; they both admire reason and rationality. The basic beliefs of Aristotle contrasted with the modern ideas of Immanuel Kant which offered a great match for an interesting view of human good and good will. However, after a thorough inspection of each philosopher's theories, I found that after initially leaning toward Aristotle’s theories I discovered that Kant's idea of good was found to be more captivating than Aristotle's, in that Kant's view addressed good in a complete sense through categorical obligations of man. Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and was passionate about the virtue ethics, as were a lot of the early philosophers in Greece. He was a student of Plato and wrote on a variety of topics. “Aristotle set the tone of the virtue ethics approach with his observation that in exploring the moral dimension of experience, he said we are discussing no small matter, but how we ought to live. A sentiment that echoed Socrates’ commitment to moral action.” (Chaffee, 2013, p. 482). Aristotle believed virtue ethics was the cultivation of a virtuous person to be the goal of ethics. He believed that genuinely virtuous people would act in a moral way, as a reflection of their moral goodness. Aristotle’s main piece of work in this category is called The Nicomachean Ethics. In his book Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle...
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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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...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 his theory, euthanasia...
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...relativists – deny that there are any universally valid moral principles C. Ethical absolutists – claim there are moral absolutes D. Teleological ethical theories – consequences determine the rightness of an action E. Deontological ethical theories – advocate doing what is good regardless of the consequences F. Virtue ethics theories – emphasis one’s character rather than one’s actions II. Kant and the Categorical Imperative G. Introduction 1. Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804) 2. Kant published The Critique of Pure Reason, which revolutionized western philosophy H. Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant 3. The good will is the only thing that can be conceived as good without qualification 4. Action of duty has moral worth not through the purpose to be attained, but through the principle of volition irrespective of desire 5. Duty is the necessity to act out of reverence for the law 6. The categorical imperative: “I ought never to act except in such a way that I can also will that my maxim should become a universal law” III. Utilitarianism I. Introduction 7. Jeremy Bentham (1748 – 1832) proposed the ethical theory of utilitarianism 8. Utilitarianism – teleological theory that what makes an action right is its consequences 9. John Stuart Mill (1806 – 1873) suggested “the greatest happiness for the greatest number” ...
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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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...us to compare our own views of morality with the ethics of two philosophers. I would like to examine Immanuel Kant and Ayn Rand’s moral systems for my essay. At first glance, you could say that these two thinkers seem diametrically opposed, but they actually share some similar views. I’ll start by reviewing some of the details of Immanuel Kant’s moral system. You could say that Kant’s views on morality are just an extreme form of altruism. Kant believed in duty ethics, or the act of judging the morality of an action within the context of a system of laws. He believed that humans alone possessed goodwill, a word which he defined as, “the ability to act in accordance with moral laws regardless of interests or consequences”. (Camoin) Kant credits human emotions with the power to know the greater metaphysical world by indiscernible means that he termed “pure reason.” Pure reason exists in the inexplicable human instinct for duty. Duty is an uncompromising obligation that one “just knows.” Kant held that an action is moral only if a person performs it out of a special sense of duty (MacKinnon 45). Morality is therefore derived through feelings from that metaphysical dimension of reality. That being said, these duties fall within Kant’s two moral codes: The first being that they must be logically consistent, not self-contradictory and that any truths must be universal. On the other hand, we have Ayn Rand, whose philosophies I consider to be an expression of extreme...
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...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, Humanity or End in Itself formulation, and Kingdom of Ends formulation. In this essay, the viablity of the Universal Law formulation is tested by discussing two objections...
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...Kantian Ethics Give an account of Kant’s ethical theory [25] Immanuel Kant was a philosopher who was born in the 16th century. The essence of his ethics is that all human beings are striving for goodness and that the use of power of reason solves any moral dilemma. This is known as the ‘summon bonum’. He developed his own ethical theory based around the idea of moral law. He was looking for some sort of objective basis for morality as a hole, a clear and scientific way. Kant believed that we could use reason to work out a consistent, non-overridable set of moral principles. Immanuel’s ethical theory is deontological, so it is based on the idea that an act’s claim to being right or wrong is independent of the consequences of that action. His theory uses practical reason to look at the argument before deciding what to do about the situation. His ethical statements are described as a priori synthetic, this means that a statement is knowable before sense 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...
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...#2 Immanuel Kant thought of a structural way of how people should morally behave, the Categorical Imperative. Kant believed that moral rules are absolute and needed to be followed by and for everyone to maintain order. There are two formulations to this, hypothetical imperatives and categorical imperatives. Hypothetical imperatives are things we should do in order to achieve our desires. If a person wanted to go to college, it is in their best interest to take the SAT. It is all hypothetical depending on your desire, but according to Kant, no matter what your desire is, you should help other people as part of his moral code. Moral requirements are considered categorical, the second formulation of Kant’s idea. The basics of categorical imperative is asking yourself, is the action I’m doing okay to become a universal law. With this principle, it limits everyone that follows it to be morally active. Kant provides a simple example, I ought to help someone that needs help because maybe I myself would need help and I would be grateful to receive the help. Kant’s universal rules include that lying should be strictly prohibited. If a lie was told, then according to the categorical imperative, lying would be done by everyone. A society full of liars would cause havoc and no one could trust each other, thus defeating the purpose of the categorical imperatives to keep everyone acting morally. A hypothetical was imposed, is lying to save someone’s life acceptable. Kant argued...
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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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...Chong Bland (Linda) Ken Maddox Business Ethics 4/09/2011 Week # 3 Drop box assignment Immanuel Kant and his contribution to the study of business ethics Immanuel Kant focuses mainly on the role of duty. He believes that actions can be in accord with duty or be from duty. Duty is defined as an action which we are obligated to perform out of respect for the moral law. Moral law is practical reason, which is in every rational person, though some people are more aware of it than others. Moral law is having the knowledge of the difference between good and evil, and an inner conviction that we should do what is good. The concept of duty includes good will. Good will is good without qualification; it is good in itself and good through willing alone. It comes from an instinct within us and cannot be denied. Good will can be seen in moderation, self-control and sober reflection. There are things in everyday life that have to do with duty. We are innately born with the capacity to learn right from wrong. Every single human being is molded by their parents, teachers, and anyone else who is a part of their life, from there on is how we determine what is good and what is evil. It is my duty to preserve my life. This idea works because there are many people there are many people who hate their lives and yet they will still keep their life dear to them. These people are not doing it for self satisfaction; it is just their duty to live on. A man...
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...Austrian economists believe in an entirely free market, with very little to no government intervention whatsoever, (even in times of severe economic downturn and in the midst of financial crises), whereas more liberal Keynesian economists believe that government intervention is key to maintaining a healthy, growing economy with little to no possibility of collapse. These two vastly different economic philosophies not only have monetary implications, but also very significant social as well as ethical ones. Keynesian economics was developed by the British economist John Maynard Keynes who was born in 1883 and died in 1946 (Keynesian Economics, 2). His economic theory, which would later bear his name, gained widespread recognition during the Great Depression of the early 1930s. The main components of his economic theories have to do with the role of the Federal Government in the mitigation of economic recessions. Keynes advocated capitalism as a healthy economic system, but also noted that in such a society there are going to be...
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