Kant

• What is the only thing that is good without qualification according to Kant?

  Good will
• What does good will mean in Kant's ethics?

  Acting for the sake of duty
• What is a duty in Kant's deontological ethics?

  Following the moral law
• How does Kant describe moral laws?

  They are universal
• What is the categorical imperative used for?

  To test if a maxim is universal
• What are the two tests of the categorical imperative?

  Contradiction in conception and contradiction in will
• Why would Kant argue that stealing is not morally permissible?

  It leads to a contradiction in conception
• What happens if a maxim leads to a contradiction in conception?

  You have a perfect duty not to follow it
• What does contradiction in conception mean?

  It is self-contradictory
• What is contradiction in will according to Kant?

  Whether we can rationally will a maxim
• Can we rationally will the maxim "not to help others in need"?

  No, because we need help to achieve goals
• What does the humanity formula state?

  Always treat humanity as an end
• What is an example of treating someone as a means to an end?

  Tricking someone into marriage for money
• What does Kant say about motivations for actions?

  Only duty has moral worth
• How does Kant view visiting a sick friend out of concern?

  It has no moral value
• What is the distinction Kant makes regarding duty?

  Acting for the sake of duty vs. in accordance with duty
• What does Kant argue about conflicts between duties?

  True conflicts of duties are impossible
• What does Philippa Foot argue about moral laws?

  They are a system of hypothetical imperatives
• How are hypothetical imperatives characterized?

  Qualified by an 'if' statement
• What is an example of a hypothetical imperative?

  You should do homework if you want to pass
• What is an example of a categorical imperative?

  You shouldn’t steal
• What does Foot argue about the motivation for following moral laws?

  There is no clear reason to follow them
• What does Foot say about immorality?

  It does not necessarily involve irrationality
• How does Foot view the feeling of moral obligation?

  It is just a feeling, not a rational reason
• What does Foot suggest about morality?

  It should be seen as hypothetical imperatives
• deontological


  one ought to (duty)
• good will


  one which acts for the sake of duty an not just in accordance with it
• what kind of beings are humans

  humans are imperfectly rational beings with free will and autonomy
• reason for sense of duty


  tension between reason and desires creates the possibility of a sense of duty
• maxim


  rule underlying our actions
• when actions have moral worth

  an action that relies on a maxim that is universally applicable has moral worth but one based on desires does not
• the will


  ability to make decisions and choices, assumed to be rational
• shopkeeper example


  a shopkeeper doesn't rip off an inexperienced customer because:

  A- doesn't want a bad reputation (no moral worth)

  B- ought not to out of moral duty (moral worth)
• father example


  Father A - spends his evenings developing his son's talents because he loves his son, enjoys spending time with him wants him to flourish (supposed no moral worth)

  Father B - spends evenings developing his son's talents but not out of love and doesn't like spending time with him, instead it's out of duty (supposed moral worth)
• criticism of Kant's measure of moral worth

  - Philippa Foot addition

  some say it's easier to be moral under Kant if you're not a nice person because you have more struggle between desire and reason

  - however most say Kant is just trying to demonstrate where acting out of duty is most clearly seen

  --> Phillipa Foot says a sense of duty is not enough reason to act, Father A is motivated by moral ends which are not self interested and this gives an act moral worth
• duty


  duty is the necessity of acting out of reverence for the law
• imperatives


  compulsion to act one way rather than another (command)
• hypothetical imperative


  the ought is conditional upon the desire

  - 'if X, then you should Y'

  -> as based on desires, not universal
• why does Kant not really care about hypothetical imperatives

  they aren't universal as based on desires so could not be moral law
• why aren't there established moral laws

  we can't be given laws as this would undermine our authority, we have to figure them out ourselves through reason