Notes to Post 3-5-02
Deontology
Deon=rule (following a moral rule) morality is a matter of following a set of exceptionless rules which describe rights and responsibilities (ie duties)
If you think hard enough you will know what your duty is.
Motive is everything and consequences are irrelevant when calculating the morality of an action.
Morality= doing your duty because it’s your duty (as opposed to doing it because you love someone (feelings) or because you might go to jail if you don’t)
Having a good will is the only thing of intrinsic value
Possible other intrinsic goods:
-happiness
-intelligence
-wit/humor
*Although, if you use these things without a good will, the action is wrong. Ie, using your intelligence to create an atom bomb which will commit murder)
Kant claims that morality is intuitive through pure reason. If you think long enough, you will know what your moral duty is.
EX: Shopkeeper has 3 motives for honesty:
1.Natural inclination, he’s a nice guy, likes being honest
2.Indirect inclination, wants to avoid getting caught, losing business, going to jail
3.Acts from duty, is honest because it’s wrong to lie, right to be truthful.
Both 1 and 2 are selfish and only 3 deserves moral credit.
Criticism:
-How can you tell? Motives are internal. Therefore how can you make a judgement on their morality?
-Kant ignores the influence of culture on your beliefs.