Kant s Theory Of Moral Theory - 1466 Words

Ever since Kant s publication of his renowned ethical treatises, deontologists and utilitarians alike have argued over which moral theory is most coherent. Yet, in Mill s critique of Kant, Mill sidesteps this issue, not by directly critiquing Kant s moral theory, but rather by asserting that Kant s moral theory is actually just a form of utilitarianism. Essentially, Kant s universal law test is nothing more than a veiled appeal to consequences, as Mill correctly claims in his critique of Kant. After evaluating what it means to have goodwill in his Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant finds that it cannot depend on any particulars of the action being done. It is not one s action or even the consequences of one s action that determines whether one has goodwill; as Kant asserts on page 416, what is essentially good in the action consists in the mental disposition, let the consequences be what they may. But, how do we determine what actions to undertake? On page 402, Kant argue s that it is a simple matter of not making an exception of yourself. As he states it, more formally, I should never act except in such a way that I can also will that my maxim should become a universal law. Kant asks only that, before acting, you ask yourself whether you could will this action to be a universal law that everyone should obey. Would you be content if this maxim, which is your subjective principle for acting, were applied in all future situations resembling this one? IfShow MoreRelatedImmanuel Kant s Moral Theory872 Words   |  4 PagesImmanuel Kant once argued that the rightness or wrongness of actions does not depend on their consequences but on whether they fulfill our duty. Which translates to do we as humans do things not because there s an underlying consequence but because we are programed to do these things whether they are right or wrong. I disagree with this theory because I believe we as humans do things based on an internal moral compass within ourselves that helps us determine whether things are right or wrong. KantRead MoreKantian Moral Theory : Kant s Philosophy1328 Words   |  6 PagesKantian Moral Theory In general, society considers lying to be negative and therefore one should not lie. Telling the truth is the morally right thing to do, and we should always be honest. Telling lies can leave us very stressed out and cause us to be deceitful towards others. We end up distorting ones views and perhaps even our own when we tell a lie that can lead to a snowball effect. Immanuel Kant has some of the strictest views on lying, and some philosophers claim there is something erroneousRead MoreCriticism Of Kant s Moral Theory1339 Words   |  6 PagesCriticism of Kant’s moral theory Introduction Kant’s theory states that for an action to be considered good, it must be considered permissible for the action to apply on another party without contradiction applying (Herman, 5). It additionally states that humans should not be considered as a means to an end but should be considered as an end themselves. It goes further to distinguish between perfect duties and those not perfect (Reath, 23). A perfect duty, for example, is toRead MoreKant s Theory Of Moral Knowledge1484 Words   |  6 Pagesways to attack the question. One philosopher, in particular, by the name of Immanuel Kant, attempted to determine the morality of actions by focusing on their nature. As Kant developed his theory, his approach toward proving moral knowledge soon became widely known as Kantian deontology. Kantian deontology is a form of duty-based ethics. This is in contrast to utilitarianism, which focuses on consequences (Kay 4). Kant rejected utilitarianism, because it focused on the results of the action rather thanRead MoreKant s Moral Theory And Ethics1407 Words   |  6 Pagesname of Immanuel Kant introduced the third major ethical philosophy, Deontology. The basis behind Deontology is that people are duty bound to act morally by certain standards despite the outcome. Determining whether a person’s actions are morally right involves look at the intent of the actions. Like other ethic theories, Deontologist applies the golden rule of treating other people the way you would want them to treat you. Deontology can be broken down into three different theories: agent-centeredRead MoreKant s Moral And Political Theory1888 Words   |  8 Pagesarguing in favor of one of the most important points of Immanuel’s Kant’s human rights view. Kant’s moral an d political theory plays a huge role in human rights. According to Kant, the power of the state should be limited in order to protect the people living in it. This way the government would be constrained by the law and it will allow individuals to think and decide for themselves which is how Kant explains how a human being should be rather than wait and be told by others. He assumes that if oneRead MoreKant s Moral Theory Essay965 Words   |  4 Pagesinjuries and fatal accidents? Kant’s moral theory can be a useful tool in determining the answers to these questions. Kant’s moral theory revolves around the idea that an act is morally right if it fulfills our duty, and morally wrong if it does not. His theory includes the concept of categorical imperative, he believes that this is the supreme principle of morality. Categorical imperatives are rules that apply always, no matter the circumstances. Kant’s theory also mentions maxims which are the subjectRead MoreKant And John Stuart Mill s Utility Based, Utilitarian Moral Theory1551 Words   |  7 PagesOne of the most intriguing aspects of moral theory is not merely analyzing disagreements between renowned, intellectual giants, but examining the ways in which near polar ideologies can arise to similar conclusions based on vastly different rationales. Immanuel Kant s duty-based, deontological moral theory and John Stuart Mill s utility-based, utilitarian moral theory are prime examples of ant ithetical viewpoints that share similar outlooks to ethical subjects such as lying and helping those inRead More Ethical and Philosophical Questions about Value and Obligation977 Words   |  4 Pagesand Obligation I Recall the distinction between metaethics and normative ethics. Normative ethics deals with substantial ethical issues, such as, What is intrinsically good? What are our moral obligations? Metaethics deals with philosophical issues about ethics: What is value or moral obligation? Are there ethical facts? What sort of objectivity is possible in ethics? How can we have ethical knowledge? Recall, also, the fundamental dilemma of metaethics. Either there are Read MoreEmmanuel Kant and Moral Theory1589 Words   |  6 Pagescontributions to moral theory is the concept of pure practical reason that, as an alternative to moral sense theory or teleological ethics, more positively views the capability of fallible individuals to act morally. Practical reason, the basis of Kantian metaphysics, was revolutionary because it challenged skepticism towards human moral capacities and insisted that the moral faculty is an implicit part of common human reason. Practical reason is an instrumental theory in Kants Metaphysics of Morals and greatly