Kantian Ethics

• What does Kant define Enlightenment as?

  Man’s emergence from self-imposed immaturity
• What problem did Enlightenment thinkers like Kant aim to solve?

  Disagreement among different faiths
• What was Kant's solution to the problem of religious warfare?

  Base religion and ethics on reason
• Why does Kant believe reason is universal?

  Everyone has reason, but not faith
• How does Kant believe a more harmonious society can be achieved?

  Through rational discussion and agreement
• What does Kant mean by faith-based morality?

  It imposes laws on people like children
• What does Kant believe humanity is ready for?

  Greater autonomy in moral decision-making
• What is the emerging agency Kant refers to?

  The rational will aligning with universal laws
• What type of ethics is Kantian ethics classified as?

  Deontological ethics
• What does Kant argue is the foundation of a normative theory?

  What is unconditionally good
• What does Kant say is the only unconditionally good thing?

  A good will
• What must one do to attain a good will according to Kant?

  Act purely out of a sense of duty
• How does Kant illustrate the concept of a good will?

  With the example of a shopkeeper
• What is the difference between hypothetical and categorical imperatives?

  Hypothetical is conditional; categorical is absolute
• Why can't hypothetical imperatives be moral according to Kant?

  They depend on individual desires
• What is the first formulation of the categorical imperative?

  Act only on maxims that can be universalized
• What does "contradiction in conception" mean?

  Acting on a principle that can't be universalized
• Why does Kant believe lying cannot be universalized?

  It undermines the concept of truth
• What is "contradiction in will" according to Kant?

  A maxim that contradicts our rational will
• What is the second formulation of the categorical imperative?

  Always treat persons as ends, not means
• How does Kant illustrate treating someone as a means and an end?

  With the example of a waiter in a restaurant
• What is the third formulation of the categorical imperative?

  Act as if living in a kingdom of ends
• What are the three postulates Kant believes are necessary for ethics?

  God, immortality, and free will
• Why does Kant believe free will is essential for ethics?

  It allows for responsibility for actions
• What does Kant mean by 'summum bonum'?

  The highest good in ethics
• What is a strength of Kantian ethics according to Kant?

  Its ethical clarity and rationality
• What does "ought implies can" mean in Kantian ethics?

  We must be capable of fulfilling our duties
• What is the issue of clashing duties in Kantian ethics?

  It can lead to moral confusion
• How does Kant differentiate between perfect and imperfect duties?

  Perfect duties have one way to fulfill them
• What is Kant's response to the objection of clashing duties?

  We haven't used our reason properly
• What is a strength of Kant's critique of consequentialism?

  It emphasizes moral responsibility over outcomes
• What is a weakness of Kantian ethics regarding consequences?

  It goes against moral intuitions about outcomes
• How does Kant illustrate the consequences of lying?

  By discussing the potential death of a victim
• What do consequentialist theories like Utilitarianism claim?

  Moral rightness maximizes happiness
• What is the main premise of Kant's deontological approach?

  Consequences are irrelevant to moral decision-making
• How does Kant illustrate the consequences of lying in moral decision-making?

  By showing it could lead to a victim's death
• What is a weakness of Kant's approach regarding consequences?

  Consequences do have moral value
• How does Kant's approach conflict with people's moral intuitions?

  It ignores terrible consequences of truth-telling
• What do Consequentialist theories like Utilitarianism claim about moral obligation?

  Moral obligation is to maximize happiness
• What does Bentham say about actions and pleasure?

  Actions have a tendency to produce pleasure