WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY KANT ETHICS ?

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was a German philosopher.

His work has had a profound impact on various fields, including ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, and aesthetics.

It is a deontological ethical theory, meaning that it focuses on the inherent nature of actions rather than their consequences.

Kantian ethics is grounded in the belief that morality is derived from rational principles and the application of the categorical imperative.

KANT’S DEONTOLOGY

⁠⁠Kant’s theory of morality is classified as a deontological theory. The term deontological was coined by the utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham, who characterized it as "the science of duties." According to this viewpoint, moral actions are those that fulfill our duties or obligations. Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, developed an ethical system founded on the concept of duty, which is referred to as deontology. The word deontology originates from the Greek word "deon" which signifies "duty."

Deontological ethics is focused on responsibilities, duties, and rights. According to Kant, the _______ in the world or outside the world that can be considered good is only goodwill. Goodwill expresses itself through _______ actions, which are not determined by external factors.

According to Kant, one should act with a sense of duty, driven by a concern and respect for moral principles, in order to uphold the intrinsic goodness of one's actions. Unlike other qualities like money or intelligence, goodwill is inherently good and its value is not determined by external factors or personal desires.

According to Kant, an individual should strive to lead a pure intellectual life, and this can be achieved through following the moral law without regard for personal gain or recognition. When we act in accordance with this moral law, our goodwill is absolute, meaning it is good in itself and does not rely on anyone or anything else. In Kant's view, this type of good is always good, regardless of the circumstances or context.

Good Will

Goodwill refers to a sincere and admiring wish that comes from appreciation of moral principles unaffected by any retour, goal, or sentiment. It lies within oneself and serves as the highest moral state. Although there are numerous things in life that could be considered good, their goodness is ultimately dependent on certain circumstances. theless, if goodwill is perceived as relative, it is at risk of being compromised by other factors.

According to Kant, goodwill is an absolute good that cannot be measured by the outcome of an action. This is because the person performing the action does not have control over the results. This view contradicts the idea of infinite regress, where goodwill is considered the highest principle of morality. To avoid this error, goodwill must be considered an absolute good and used to overcome the infinite regress that occurs when trying to identify the highest moral principle.

To have moral worth, according to Kant, an action must be performed with the correct intention and also involve doing the right thing. Success and failure do not influence a person's goodwill, and this is why Kant deems the goodness to be absolute.

Duty

The morality of an action is based on rules which are also called ‘Duty’.

Acc. to Kant, your actions are of moral worth only if it coincide with your duties and duties should be performed for their own sake.

Kant believed that ethical actions should be the result of following universal moral laws such as doesn’t lie, don’t cheat etc. People should follow these rules and do their duty.

Duty and Obligation:

Kant believes that moral duties are objective and binding on all rational beings. These duties arise from the rational nature of individuals and are not contingent on personal preferences. Moral obligations must be fulfilled for the sake of duty itself.

Morality is constant according to Kant. He made a distinction between two kinds of acts:

The things we ought to do morally The acts we do without any moral reason, law

IMPERATIVE

an imperative is a command that considers action as a means of accomplishing any purpose.

Two types of imperative

hypothetical and categorical

hypothetical imperative

stand for a set of rules/ commands/instructions that tells us what to do if we want to achieve something.

For instance, if one wants to get rich, the hypothetical imperative would tell her to get a job or work hard.

Categorical imperative

Categorical Imperatives are our moral obligations and they need to be followed irrespective of whatever the situation is.

According to Kant, it doesn’t matter whether you want to be moral or not, you have to follow the commands of Categorical Imperatives. They are independent of your wishes and desires.

He gave three maxims of this imperative, the first one says:

“Act only on that maxim which you can will as a universal law.”

stands for universalizability, your acts, and the nature of your acts should be universally applied. the term Maxim stands for rule or principle whereas the term universal moral law stands for acts that must always be done in similar situations.

Moral Rules apply to anybody and everybody.

goodwill is pure devotion to moral law.

the second maxim of Kant focuses on how human beings should be treated.

2.“Act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end and never as a mere means.”

For Kant, we use objects and things as mere means all the time.

Kant never said that we don’t use each other as means. We all are human beings and we are dependent on each other, we rely on each other. but shouldn’t be using each other as mere means.

Kant thought that human beings as rational beings are capable of making their own decisions, setting their own goals, and guiding their conduct by reason. They perform actions from a sense of duty.

3."Act according to maxims of a universally legislating member of a merely possible kingdom of ends.”

Kant’s moral philosophy focuses on fairness and the value of the individual.

Kant asks us to remember that every time we act, we are contributing to the idea and nature of acting. We are making it normal and we always have the choice to act according to universal moral laws

Kant’s moral philosophy rests on ‘free Will’. Your actions should have Universality, they should be an end in themselves and autonomous.

This maxim envisions a community or society where individuals, as rational beings, legislate moral principles for themselves and others. It encourages acting in ways that contribute to a harmonious "kingdom of ends" where everyone is guided by morally principled maxims.

💡 CRITICISM

Rigidity and Absoluteness:

Some argue that the moral rules derived from the categorical imperative are too strict and inflexible

lacking the necessary nuance to address the complexities of real-world ethical dilemmas.

Lack of Guidance in Specific Cases:

does not provide concrete guidance for specific moral dilemmas. It sets out a general principle but might be insufficient in offering practical solutions in complex, real-world situations where conflicting duties are at play.

Conflict Resolution:

Kant's framework doesn't offer a clear method for resolving conflicts between duties when they arise. In situations where two or more moral duties seem to be in conflict, the categorical imperative may not provide a clear resolution.

Individualism and Autonomy:

Kant's emphasis on individual autonomy may be criticized for neglecting the importance of communal values and the relational aspects of morality. Some argue that a purely individualistic approach might not capture the complexities of moral life.

Ethical Outcomes:

Critics argue that Kant's emphasis on the intention behind an action rather than its consequences might lead to morally questionable outcomes. In some situations, a focus on consequences may be deemed more relevant in determining the ethical nature of an action