Kants moral philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. But where the utilitarian takes happiness, conceived of as pleasure and the absence of pain to be what has intrinsic value, kant takes the only thing to have moral worth for its own sake to be the capacity for good will we find in persons. Apr 21, 2009 kant based his moral theory on reason and thus the categorical imperative act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law hume on the other hand based his moral theory on emotion or subjective response to action. Using as nontechnical a language as possible, professor sullivan offers a detailed, authoritative account of kant s moral philosophy including his ethical theory, his philosophy of history, his political philosophy, his philosophy of religion, and his philosophy of education and demonstrates the historical, kantian origins of such important.
Immanuel kant was born and spent his life in konigsberg, prussia, now kaliningrad, russia. Dignity and practical reason in kants moral theory 1st. Kant defines moral duty as a necessity of action caused by respect to the law. Kant lays out the case for his moral theory in groundwork for the metaphysics of morals 1785, critique of practical reason also known as the second critique. The most basic aim of moral philosophy, and so also of the groundwork, is, in kant s view, to seek out the foundational principle of a metaphysics of morals, which kant understands as a system of a priori moral principles that apply the ci to human persons in all times and cultures. What matters for virtue theory, more specifically, is the character of the agent. Kant views it as an action that one is obliged to obey. German philosopher immanuel kant 17241804 was an opponent of utilitarianism.
The most basic aim of moral philosophy, and so also of the groundwork, is, in kants view, to seek out the foundational principle of a metaphysics of morals, which kant understands as a system of a priori moral principles that apply the ci to human persons in all times and cultures. Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct. Utilitarianism, kantian ethics, natural rights theories. The mathematical sublime results from the failure of the imagination to comprehend natural. Kant believes that all people have intrinsic or inherent value. Moreover, some prominent specialists in kants ethics recently have turned. Value of humanity in kants moral theory oxford scholarship. For kant, moral knowledge is a prior, or existing before and in spite of the fact. The theory, developed as a result of enlightenment rationalism, is based on the view that the only intrinsically good thing is a good will. Dec 06, 2019 conditions of this moral duty respond to all principles of kants theory of moral duty. The good will is unique in that it is always good and maintains its moral value even when it fails to achieve its moral intentions. From 17471755 he worked as a private tutor for various families in the konigsberg area. Summary and problems immanuel kant 17241804 is one of the most important and influential modern philosophers. The theory of strict justice contains external, enforceable, coercive, narrow, and perfect rights and duties.
According to kants perception of moral duty, this phenomenon is necessary to discuss from both aspects. It does this as part of an effort to assess the advantages of kantianism as opposed to utilitarian theory. The kantian legacy in content, kants ethical system is a continuation of christian religious teachings, specifically those of 18th century pietism, the accepted view in. Kants moral philosophy is a conception of reason whose reach in practical affairs goes well beyond that of a humean slave to the passions. On the relation between kants moral theory and his aesthetic theory, see 7c below. There is a threepart division in his philosophy concerning the concept of the highest good and the future of humankind. Kant himself was well aware of this consequence of his theory, and he believed it to be correct. Kants later theory in the 1790s focused on legal, moral and ethicotheological cosmopolitanism. Which in simple terms mean that we as human beings are held to a higher standard.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Kant, immanuel internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Kantian ethics refers to a deontological ethical theory ascribed to the german philosopher immanuel kant. An ethical theory will provide criteria for determining whether an action is right or wrong, and it. He is equally well known for his metaphysicsthe subject of his critique of pure reasonand for the moral philosophy set out in his groundwork to the metaphysics of morals and critique of practical reason although groundwork is the far easier of the two to.
These are the obligations to do certain types of actions. This is a mixed inclination to social interaction and to isolation and conflict. The most influential interpretation of kants ethical thought in the last thirty years has been in terms of constructivism. Barbara mackinnon utilitarianism and kants moral theory ethical theory an ethical theory is a general theory about which actions are right or wrong, and why those actions are right or wrong. To elucidate what kant means by autonomy, and why it merits respect, it is worth sketching out kant s moral theory. Barbara mackinnon utilitarianism and kants moral theory. He was born in konigsberg, the ancient, sevenbridged prussian capital which became, in 1945 after deportation of most of the german population to the gulag archipelago, the bizarre russian baltic enclave of kaliningrad. He also edited kants theoretical philosophy after 1781 2002, with peter heath.
Utilitarianism, kantian ethics, natural rights theories, and religious ethics a utilitarian argument, in the strict sense, is one what alleges that we ought to do something because it will produce more total happiness than doing anything else would. In this paper, i sketch a kantian account of duties of rescue, which i take to be compatible with kants theory. Pdf kantian naturalism in moral theory roberto mordacci. For kant a good will is a broader conception than a will which acts from duty. Moreover, it is the presence of this selfgoverning reason in each person that kant thought offered decisive grounds for viewing each as possessed of equal worth and deserving of equal respect. That is, there are moral precepts which determine how men ought to behave, and these precepts do not depend on actual behavior. Although his family was poor, kant was educated in a good pietist school and attended the university of konigsberg from 17401747. This moral duty is grounded on the moral law and is supposed to be appropriate by other people in society. An ethical theory will provide criteria for determining whether an action is right or wrong, and it will claim that the actions meeting those. Utilitarianism takes no account of integrity the accidental act or one done with evil intent if promoting good ends is the good act. This paper addresses difficulties arising from kants distinction between perfect and imperfect duties and his claim that perfect duties have normative priority over imperfect ones. Immanuel kant 17241804 is generally considered to be one of the most profound and original philosophers who ever lived.
The field of ethics, along with aesthetics, concerns matters of value, and thus comprises the branch of philosophy called axiology ethics seeks to resolve questions of human morality by defining concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong. Because this principle resonates with currently influential ideals of human rights and dignity, contemporary readers often find it compelling, even if the rest of kants moral philosophy leaves them cold. Utilitarianism and kants moral theory phil 101 flashcards. The difference between kant and aristotle here can be traced to a difference over the nature of the will. The moral theory of immanuel kant is based on his concept of the good will. Kantian ethics main concepts introduction to philosophy. Kant s moral philosophy is a conception of reason whose reach in practical affairs goes well beyond that of a humean slave to the passions. Using as nontechnical a language as possible, professor sullivan offers a detailed, authoritative account of kants moral philosophy including his ethical theory, his philosophy of history, his political philosophy, his philosophy of religion, and his philosophy of education and demonstrates the historical, kantian origins of such important. Kant based his moral theory on reason and thus the categorical imperative act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law hume on the other hand based his moral theory on emotion or subjective response to action. In any case, there is no requirement that ones ethical theory be based on a single principle. The concept of autonomy and its role in kantian ethics. P1 if an act must be done for the sake of duty to have moral worth, then vickis acts of volunteering do not have moral worth. Thusif there were no rational beings, the moral dimension of the world would simply disappear.
Oct 07, 2011 kant and applied ethics is a stimulating attempt to assess the relevance of kantian theory for contemporary moral problems. Central to kants construction of the moral law is the. We begin with an account of immanuel kants moral philosophy and its legacy to contemporary moral development theory. Act utilitarianism au is the moral theory that holds that the morally right action, the act. If every human has intrinsic worth as kant believes, then. For kant, free actions are those that are based in an. In american culture, just to name one country, we are interested in and fond of rights. Kant calls the moral demand to do this this categorica l to express that this imperative is. Kant sought after criticism of pure reason, to found an a priori science of behavior and morality, thus answering the question. Kants theory is an example of a deontological moral theoryaccording to these theories, the rightness or wrongness of actions does not depend on their consequences but on whether they fulfill our duty. Some commentators argue that kant s critical philosophy contains a third kind of the sublime, the moral sublime, which is the aesthetic response to the moral law or a representation, and a development of the noble sublime in kant s theory of 1764. Some commentators argue that kants critical philosophy contains a third kind of the sublime, the moral sublime, which is the aesthetic response to the moral law or a representation, and a development of the noble sublime in kants theory of 1764.
Kant and applied ethics is a stimulating attempt to assess the relevance of kantian theory for contemporary moral problems. Kants ethical theory does not allow for moral dilemmas in this sense. Kant pursues this project through the first two chapters. For kant, the will seems to be something that can be insulated completely from natural influences and inclinations.
Utilitarians hold the moral agent responsible for outcomes that are neither foreseeable nor controllable. Kantian moral philosophers will find much to disagree with, but there is no doubt that the book raises important puzzles for kantian moral theory. Kant regarded the good will as a single moral principle which freely chooses to use the other virtues for moral ends. Kants moral theory can be categorized as a deontological theory, due to his belief that you have a moral duty to fulfill kant 114. Kants moral theory and demandingness alice pinheiro walla penultimate version, forthcoming in. Kant was often ambivalent about the power of philosophy to affect the world. Aug 31, 2019 immanuel kant 17241804 is generally considered to be one of the most profound and original philosophers who ever lived. Kants is definitely not a moral knowledge theory, since he regards conscience as distinct from the faculty of moral judgment, which is as the sole source of the moral knowledge that is to be implemented in the process of selfexamination and associated motivation that is conscience p. To determine the moral status of an action, utilitarianism has us look at c, deontology b, and virtue theory a. Like utilitarianism, imannual kants moral theory is grounded in a theory of intrinsic value. Philosophy, he believed, is responsible for guarding this science. The metaphysics of morals the critique of practical reason. Start studying utilitarianism and kant s moral theory phil 101.
The kantian legacy in content, kants ethical system is a continuation of christian religious teachings, specifically those of 18th century pietism, the accepted view in his time and place. The foundation of a cosmopolitan condition of perpetual. I argue that there is in fact no trumping relation between imperfect and perfect duties but merely that latitude shrinks away in. Kant, history, and the idea of moral development 61 unsocial sociability. Start studying utilitarianism and kants moral theory phil 101. Dignity and practical reason in kants moral theory 9780801497483. The resulting social antagonism leads to consequences that are so harmful that people will leave the state of nature for selfinterested reasons and create a state that. What you should know about kants ethics in a nutshell. Utilitarianism, kantian ethics, natural rights theories, and. He is equally well known for his metaphysicsthe subject of his critique of pure reasonand for the moral philosophy set out in his groundwork to the metaphysics of morals and critique of practical reason. For example, suppose your friend is struggling in 8. It is not a hypothetical imperative, which tells you what you ought to do. The choice between consequentialist and kantian ethics is a dif.
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