Kantian Ethics

• One set of fixed rules that applt to everyone in any situation
• (a universal absolute moral law)

The power to reason, which may be clouded by emotion

Yes, Kant was concerned about a person's intention

The ability that everyone has to use reason to determine how they ought to behave in a situation

Good will

A sense of duty

A MORAL ACTION

• 1. Human reason determines moral truths 
• 2. Individual freedom and autonomy are good 
• 3. Everyone has a sense of duty or obligation to act morally

Kant's theory that humans construct knowledge by imposing universal concepts onto sensory experiences

Something that can be known, without having experienced it

No

Because what makes you happy one day might not make you happy the next day or might not make another person happy

objective

Rules that determine how you should act based on a maxim

A person who is free to choose

Through reason rather than direct revelation

A moral principle, subjective in origin, which demands practical application that can be deduced by all rational human beings

Something human beings are duty bound to do, whatever the circumstances

• an idea derived from Kant's categorical imperative
• an ideal community in which all citizens are at once the authors and subjects of all laws.
• In this community, the only possible laws are laws that could apply to all rational beings.

For example if one person lies it is okay for everyone to lie

1. 'Act only on that maxim whereby which you can at the same time will that it become a universal law'

2. 'So act to treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of any other, in every case at the same time as an end, never as a means only'

3. 'Act according to the maxims of a member of a merely possible Kingdom of Ends legislating in it universally

The idea that laws ought to develop from the application of maxims in life

• If something is right in all situations at all times then it is universalizable
• This is how maxims can be tested to see if they should become an ethical rule

all human beings are equal regardless of their power. It is wrong to use someone as a means to an end, even when that end is moral

The actions that a person takes in order to achieve a purpose. These actions are not universally applicable (due to personal circumstances). The person may realise that they cannot achieve the puropse, for practical reasons

• Something can only be a categorical imperative if it is universalisable and based on morality 
• hypothetical imperative relates to what actions a person can make due to personal circumstances (not universalizable)

categorical imperative = deontological 

hypothetical imperative = teleological

deontological

- Takes account of the responsibility that we have to others 

- recognises the universability of morality

• - Duties conflict and it may not be possible to satisfy all the duties you have 
• - We may feel like we have the duty to do things that we don't necessarily need to do

To perform an action/duty at the cost to oneself. Rejecting happiness as a basis for moral decision making

• - against avarice (greed for wealth)
• - against lying
• - against servility (acting in a manner that undermines oneself)

• - against suicide 
• - against drunkenness 
• - against lust 
• - against gluttony

• to respect individuals as equals 
• to love by beneficence (generosity)

The highest good, which is only achieveable in the moral community

by implementing ethical principles in the moral system

The resolution of two different ends, which are moral goodness and righteousness.

After death, as people struggle to resolve these ends in life