kant on duty. introduction kant will be the culmination of two themes traced over the ages kant will...

Kant on DutyKant on Duty

IntroductionIntroduction

Kant will be the culmination of two Kant will be the culmination of two themes traced over the agesthemes traced over the ages


Kant will be the culmination of two Kant will be the culmination of two themes traced over the agesthemes traced over the ages Will – the most important thing for Will – the most important thing for

moralitymorality



moralitymorality Law – morality is a law-like thingLaw – morality is a law-like thing



moralitymorality Law – morality is a law-like thingLaw – morality is a law-like thing

And a further modern tendencyAnd a further modern tendency God is not a good explanation for rights, God is not a good explanation for rights,

morals, etc.morals, etc.

BackgroundBackground

Age of Reason (17Age of Reason (17thth-18-18thth C) C) Enlightenment (18Enlightenment (18thth C) C)

All problems amenable to reasonAll problems amenable to reason God not a reasonable explanationGod not a reasonable explanation Republicanism, democracy, liberalism.Republicanism, democracy, liberalism.

American Revolution (1776)American Revolution (1776) Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence,

ConstitutionConstitution French Revolution (1789)French Revolution (1789)

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the CitizenCitizen

KantKant

Königsberg (Kaliningrad)Königsberg (Kaliningrad) 1724 – 18041724 – 1804 Moral texts (all hard)Moral texts (all hard)

Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (1785)Morals (1785)

Metaphysics of MoralsMetaphysics of Morals Critique of Practical ReasonCritique of Practical Reason

KantKant

Critique of Practical Reason Critique of Practical Reason 5:1625:162

Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and reverence, the more often and the more admiration and reverence, the more often and the more steadily one reflects on them: steadily one reflects on them: the starry heavens above the starry heavens above me and the moral law within meme and the moral law within me. … the first view of a . … the first view of a countless multitude of worlds annihilates, as it were, countless multitude of worlds annihilates, as it were, my importance as an my importance as an animal creatureanimal creature, which after it , which after it has been for a short time provided with vital force (one has been for a short time provided with vital force (one knows not how) must give back to the planet (a mere knows not how) must give back to the planet (a mere speck in the universe) the matter from which it came. speck in the universe) the matter from which it came. The second, on the contrary, infinitely raises my worth The second, on the contrary, infinitely raises my worth as an as an intelligenceintelligence by my personality, in which the moral by my personality, in which the moral law reveals to me a life independent of animality…law reveals to me a life independent of animality…

NormativityNormativity

Source of Normativity

CultureHuman Nature

God Reason

But morals are universal

But Human Nature is unreliable

But God wills only what is good

To be moral is to be reasonable

Types of TheoryTypes of Theory VirtueVirtue or or aretaic aretaic theories theories

the the charactercharacter of the morally good person of the morally good person AristotleAristotle

ConsequentialistConsequentialist or or teleological teleological theories theories the consequence of the moral actthe consequence of the moral act Mill (next week)Mill (next week)

dutyduty-based or -based or deontologicaldeontological theories theories some moral value in the potential acts some moral value in the potential acts

themselvesthemselves KantKant

The Good WillThe Good Will

GroundworkGroundwork 4: 393 4: 393

Nothing can possibly be conceived in the world, or Nothing can possibly be conceived in the world, or even out of it, which can be called good, without even out of it, which can be called good, without qualification, except a good will. Intelligence, wit, qualification, except a good will. Intelligence, wit, judgement, and the other talents of the mind, however judgement, and the other talents of the mind, however they may be named, or courage, resolution, they may be named, or courage, resolution, perseverance, as qualities of temperament, are perseverance, as qualities of temperament, are undoubtedly good and desirable in many respects; but undoubtedly good and desirable in many respects; but these gifts of nature may also become extremely bad these gifts of nature may also become extremely bad and mischievous if the will which is to make use of and mischievous if the will which is to make use of them, and which, therefore constitutes what is called them, and which, therefore constitutes what is called character, is not good. … Thus a good will appears to character, is not good. … Thus a good will appears to constitute the indispensable condition even of being constitute the indispensable condition even of being worthy of happiness.worthy of happiness.

The Good WillThe Good Will

Having a good will means having the Having a good will means having the right kind of intentions or motivesright kind of intentions or motives to have a good will is to act from duty to have a good will is to act from duty

because you think it is rightbecause you think it is right But it is not enough just to have the But it is not enough just to have the

right feelings – they are an unreliable right feelings – they are an unreliable guide to dutyguide to duty

We need a reliable guide to dutyWe need a reliable guide to duty Find this in ReasonFind this in Reason

The Categorical The Categorical ImperativeImperative

Imperatives Imperatives are commands or ordersare commands or orders Hypothetical Imperatives Hypothetical Imperatives give reasonsgive reasons

‘‘Shut the door if you want to stay warm!’Shut the door if you want to stay warm!’ The force of an HI depends upon the desire for The force of an HI depends upon the desire for

the outcomethe outcome Categorical Imperatives Categorical Imperatives don’t give don’t give

reasonsreasons ‘‘Shut the door!’ is a CIShut the door!’ is a CI The force of a CI depends of being able to The force of a CI depends of being able to

derive it from a single original CI that any derive it from a single original CI that any rational creature is bound byrational creature is bound by


Act only according to that maxim Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same by which you can at the same time will that it should become a time will that it should become a universal lawuniversal law ((GroundworkGroundwork. 4:402). 4:402)

In this principle a ‘maxim’ is the general In this principle a ‘maxim’ is the general subjective rule of the particular action that you subjective rule of the particular action that you are takingare taking


Application – how to judge amongst Application – how to judge amongst maximsmaxims


Application – how to judge amongst Application – how to judge amongst maximsmaxims Can I tell a lie?Can I tell a lie?



What is maxim? – ‘I may lie for my What is maxim? – ‘I may lie for my advantage’advantage’




Can it be universalised? – ‘everyone may lie’Can it be universalised? – ‘everyone may lie’




Can it be universalised? – ‘everyone may lie’Can it be universalised? – ‘everyone may lie’ Can it be a law?Can it be a law?



What is maxim? – ‘I may lie for my advantage’What is maxim? – ‘I may lie for my advantage’ Can it be universalised? – ‘everyone may lie’Can it be universalised? – ‘everyone may lie’ Can it be a law?Can it be a law?

‘‘Lying’ depends upon a norm of truth-tellingLying’ depends upon a norm of truth-telling If ‘Tell lies’ is the law then truth-telling is not the If ‘Tell lies’ is the law then truth-telling is not the

normnorm So there can be no lying So there can be no lying There is a contradiction There is a contradiction It can’t be a lawIt can’t be a law



What is maxim? – ‘I may lie for my advantage’What is maxim? – ‘I may lie for my advantage’ Can it be universalised? – ‘everyone may lie’Can it be universalised? – ‘everyone may lie’ Can it be a law?Can it be a law?

‘‘Lying’ depends upon a norm of truth-tellingLying’ depends upon a norm of truth-telling If ‘Tell lies’ is the law then truth-telling is not the normIf ‘Tell lies’ is the law then truth-telling is not the norm So there can be no lying So there can be no lying There is a contradiction There is a contradiction It can’t be a lawIt can’t be a law

Therefore I cannot tell a lieTherefore I cannot tell a lie

The Principle of EndsThe Principle of Ends

ValuesValues Conditional Value Conditional Value is given to the means to is given to the means to

an endan end I value diamonds for what I can buy with themI value diamonds for what I can buy with them CV depends upon the desire for the end it is a CV depends upon the desire for the end it is a

means tomeans to Unconditional Value Unconditional Value is not given to the is not given to the

means to an endmeans to an end Happiness is an UVHappiness is an UV UV is required to create CV which we know UV is required to create CV which we know

existsexists

The Principle of EndsThe Principle of Ends

Act in such a way that you always Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but other, never simply as a means, but always at the same time as an endalways at the same time as an end ((GroundworkGroundwork. 4:429). 4:429)

[Compare Augustine’s ‘Scale of Values’ and ‘Love thy [Compare Augustine’s ‘Scale of Values’ and ‘Love thy Neighbour’ argument]Neighbour’ argument]

AutonomyAutonomy

We rise above animal condition if we are We rise above animal condition if we are moralmoral

We are only free (autonomous) if we are We are only free (autonomous) if we are moralmoral Autonomy is the will’s determination of itselfAutonomy is the will’s determination of itself Heteronomy is the will’s determination by Heteronomy is the will’s determination by

outsidersoutsiders Social pressuresSocial pressures Religious pressureReligious pressure Refusing to think for ourselvesRefusing to think for ourselves Acting on feelingsActing on feelings

AutonomyAutonomy

Autonomy is the essence of the Autonomy is the essence of the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Through laziness and cowardice a large part of mankind, Through laziness and cowardice a large part of mankind, even after nature has freed them from alien guidance, gladly even after nature has freed them from alien guidance, gladly remain immature. It is because of laziness and cowardice remain immature. It is because of laziness and cowardice that it is so easy for others to usurp the role of guardians. It that it is so easy for others to usurp the role of guardians. It is so comfortable to be a minor! If I have a book which is so comfortable to be a minor! If I have a book which provides meaning for me, a pastor who has a conscience for provides meaning for me, a pastor who has a conscience for me, a doctor who will judged my diet for me and so on, then I me, a doctor who will judged my diet for me and so on, then I do not need to exert myself. I do not have any need to think; do not need to exert myself. I do not have any need to think; if I can pay, others will take over this tedious job for me. if I can pay, others will take over this tedious job for me.

Kant, Kant, What is Enlightenment?What is Enlightenment?

kant on duty. introduction kant will be the culmination of two themes traced over the ages kant will...

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