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Alex Ryan
Period 6-Carr
AP English 12
2 December 2013
Impartiality the Prerequisite to Ontological Thought
What determines an a person’s right to justice? How do philosophers determine what is a moral
right? The answer to these deep metaphysical questions is existent within the idea of people declaring
morality in an impartial mindset. Why use an impartial mindset to determine morality? Multiple
prestigious philosophers and the criminal justice system itself relies on this principle of impartiality to
determine a “just” judgment and to relieve all arbitrary factors.
When developing deontology, Immanuel Kant erected several principles of impartiality in order
to relieve all arbitrary factors. These principles including the categorical imperative that creates an
ultimate statement(Ex: Killing is bad). This principle removes arbitrary measures by creating an ultimate
statement of right and wrong. By cementing finality the categorical imperative passes the test and can
be considered a legitimate moral theory. The criminal justice system also runs on this principle.
The United States criminal justice system seeks principles to limit arbitrary means and ends. For
example, when given the choice of using a system to limit recidivism, the courts have a choice between
using retributive system or a rehabilitative system. The courts then analyze what parts of each system
prove to be the most impartial. It is quite clear after much review that the rehabilitative system
inherently favors criminals in arbitrary fashion. Because the courts are seeking to find what is the most
just, the courts ultimately decide to use a system of retributive justice, because it is proven that without
arbitrary means, there is less bias, and that it is considered morally just.
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Looking at these two examples of what we determine to be moral right, readers can observe
that using an impartial mindset is the most effective way to prove what is a moral right. By seeking this
type of mindset, people will have a clearer vision of what morality is, without the restraints of arbitrary
language or thought.