Higher RMPS
Lesson 4
Kantian ethics
Learning intentions
After today’s lesson you will be able to:
• explain Kant’s theory on moral ethics
• explain the term ‘categorical imperative’
• evaluate the strength of Kant’s theory.
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant was a hugely
influential philosopher.
Kant thought it was possible to
develop a system of ethics and
morals based on reason.
Kant’s formula for ethics…
• Kant argued that rational duty was behind ethics and
morals.
• In other words, the motive behind an action is very
important.
• He believed the only truly good thing is goodwill.
• Every other characteristic, like being helpful, cheerful,
kind, loving, etc., could all be used for evil intentions
except for goodwill.
Formula a la Kant
Good = goodwill = duty
In other words …
A moral decision is not based on a feeling of
what is right, or the reward that might be
given for doing right, it is based on duty.
Acting on goodwill leads us to do our moral duty
purely because it is our moral duty.
Let’s consider some examples:
• A shopkeeper who gives the right change to his
customers because it is good for returning
business is acting in a morally wrong way
because he is not acting out of duty. If he had
acted out of moral duty, giving customers the
right change because that it is the right thing to
do, then his action would be morally acceptable
according to Kant.
Or what if…
You help an old person carry their shopping across the
street. You may have done this because…
1. you felt pity and compassion for the old person
2. the people around you would think good things about
you for doing it
3. you would feel better if you helped and didn’t walk on
by
4. your parents would be disappointed in you if you
didn’t help.
According to Kant all of these reasons are not acceptable
and do not make the action a moral act because you
should help the old person across the road because you
have a sense of duty to help the elderly in society.
Motive
Motive is very important in Kantian ethics. It means your
action can have negative consequences but still be
considered a moral act.
For example, if you stop to help someone who has been
knocked down by a car in the street and by helping them
you accidentally kill them, your action would still be
considered a moral act because you tried to help
because you felt it was your duty to do so.
What is it our moral duty to do?
• Kant argued that moral actions are not dependant on
circumstances.
• For example, we must always care for our children. This
is not dependant on circumstances or particular
situations, it is always right and is what Kant called a
categorical imperative.
Categorical imperatives
• Catergorical here means applicable in all situations, an
absolute.
• Imperative means something that must be done, an
obligation.
• In other words, a moral decision that you make must be
made because you think it would be good for everyone
to do. Are there some things that are absolute rights?
Can you think of some examples?
Care for the elderly
Protect children
Absolute
rights
Consider others
Kant said …
‘Act as if the maxim from which you were to
act were to become through your will a
general law’
This has become known as universalisation,
which means a rule should apply to everyone.
• Living by universalisation would prevent
anyone wanting to do anything that they
would not want everyone else to do.
• Does this sound familiar? It’s a bit like…
Treat others as you would like
to be treated
Is morality really as simple as
Kant makes out?
• Is making moral decisions really this simple? Does
Kant’s straightforward formula work in our complicated
world?
• For example, if it is right to always tell the truth and
always protect your friends, what do you do if a murderer
asks you to tell them where your best friend is so they
can murder them? Do you tell the truth and lead the
murderer to your friend or do you tell a lie and protect
your friend’s life?
• Can everyone really agree on what is absolutely right
and wrong, what is our duty as humans, all the time?
• What if someone believes it is our duty to never get
involved in violence and someone else believes it is our
duty to fight for our human rights?
• How do we work out the categorical imperative here?
• Can we really not help someone because we feel
compassion for them?
• Is there really something wrong with helping an old
person carry their shopping because we are
compassionate?
• Can we really not take consequences into account?
• What if someone really believes they are doing the right
thing while causing harm to others?
• What if your granny dried your cat in the microwave? Is it
ok because she meant well?
• Is motive really the only thing that is important?
Learning check…
1. Who is Immanuel Kant?
2. Explain Kant’s theory on ethics. Give two examples to
support your answer.
3. Explain in your own words Kant’s term ‘categorical
imperative’.
4. What does Kant mean when he says we should decide
our moral actions based on having the ability to
universalise moral law?
5. Outline two arguments against Kant’s theory of
rational.
6. What are your views on Kant’s theory for ethics?
1KU
6KU
2KU
3KU
4AE
3AE
Quick recap
• Kant argued that rational duty was behind ethics and
morals.
• Good = goodwill = duty.
• Catergorical means applicable in all situations, an
absolute.
• Imperative means something that must be done, an
obligation.
• Universalisation according to Kant is that a rule should
apply to everyone.