Ethics notes on Kant/Deontology 3/7/02 - Jesse Billow

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Deontology (Kant)

Reason produces one result in moral deliberation/decision making.

Conscience Nazis are impossible.

Kant says, If the Nazi thinks rationally, they would see they are doing wrong.

Kant says, We can all objectively view ourselves and just know the right thing. (rational thought)

Moral Action: Kant says reason should win out over selfish desire. (in this case reason is morality)
Reason/Morality
Desire/Selfishness

Criticism of Deontology -Kant underestimates the influence of culture on moral beliefs

Deontology (Reason) - Emphasis on good intention. (motive)

Kant says there are two non-moral motives:
1. If you think about why it will be bad for you.
2. Can't be feeling based motive, must be based on reason

Utilitarianism (Mill)
Happiness is intrinsically valuable. Emphasis on outcome of actions. (consequences)

ON TEST
When acting from duty its OK to have other motives.
Kant says, Duty is good will, not fear of consequences of not being good.
Kant says, Morality is composed of categorical imperatives only.

Hypothetical Imperatives don't apply to you if you don't have the relevant desire.
Example: If you don't have the $ investing doesn't apply to you.

Categorical Imperatives - You don't have a choice, your desires are irrelevant.

If you are going to apply the Universal Law Formulation of the moral law (categorical imperatives) ask:
-Can I imagine a world where everyone did it?(followed the principle I'm acting on)
-If everyone stole there would be no concept of personal property so stealing would be impossible.
-If everyone murdered, nobody would be left alive, so murdering would be impossible.
-If everyone broke promises, no one would accept promises, they would be meaningless.

Deontology is a form of absolutism.