Kant Week
Your log
Remember the aim of the task is to explore how practical and realistic Kant’s ethical theory really is. By trying to live by different elements of it
you should naturally find flaws, or even strengths, in his thinking.
…But use your judgement. For this task, the maxim “follow Kant’s theory” is a hypothetical imperative, not a categorical imperative! The fact
that every now and then you will simply have to consider the consequences of your actions and not meet your target is possibly one of the
biggest weaknesses of Kant’s theory that you will arrive at from Kant week. e.g. let’s just say there were an event…that you felt you couldn’t be
honest about…you would tell the lie, and in your evaluation use this sort of evidence to justify your argument that Kant’s theory is impractical
Day
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Target
Teach 5 people about the categorical
imperative (2 of them mustn’t know
that you’re doing it).
Reasoning: Kant asked you to act
as ‘legislative [law making]
member of a kingdom of ends’. But
how can you expect other people to
follow Kant’s CI if they don’t know
about it? Solution- see above.
Do not use others merely as a means
to an end.
Reasoning: the 2nd rule of Kant’s
CI and a fundamental aspect of his
ethical system. You must respect
everyone’s intrinsic worth and not
act so that you can get what you
want out of them.
Do not act out of self-interest or be
swayed by emotion
Reasoning: your inclinations and
preferences cloud your judgments
and impact on your moral
reasoning therefore you should
practise rising above them.
Log
Evaluative Comments
Day 4:
Day 5:
Universalise all your moral actions
for the day
Reasoning: the first rule of the CI,
you should not take any action
unless you would will for it to be a
universal law (a law that applies to
everyone without exception).
Make a list of 3 imperfect duties you
know you have a duty to do and do
them.
Reasoning: duty plays a key part
in Kant’s deontological theory. You
should practise seeing your duties
through e.g. picking up litter or
practising musical instruments
Day 6:
Point out to others when they are
not respecting the autonomy or
intrinsic worth of others
Reasoning: See day 1- you are
trying to bring about the kingdom
of ends.
Day 7:
Ignore the consequences of every
moral action you take- do the action
because it’s right in itself.
Reasoning: Kant’s deontological
theory demands that you take an
action because it is right and not
because it produces the right
outcome (i.e. that you use
categorical not hypothetical
imperatives)
The problem is that sometimes your
interference could be seen as infringing on
the autonomy of others. And yet- you are
still bound by duty to protect the intrinsic
worth of others and autonomy of others,
who may be being bullied etc. Whose
autonomy should be put first?