Intro to Phil: Kant

Kantian Ethics

Basics

Explanation

Kant’s moral philosophy, in contrast to util, places more emphasis in moral obligations, especially in accordance with universal maxims. Kant calls this the categorical imperative, which are said universal maxims that everyone must follow. To determine whether an action violates a maxim or not, it must undergo a test.

Law of Universalizability

Explanation

One should "act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law."

Imagine a world where every action we take is universalizable; if I was to take an action, everyone else would take the same action as well. In that world, all actions except for those that create contradictions are permitted. If they contradict by conception or will, they are morally wrong.

Contradiction in Conception

A "contradiction in conception" arises when a maxim cannot be universally willed without creating a logical self-contradiction within the concept itself. For example, in that imaginary world, killing is morally prohibited because it would eliminate a conception of life if that maxim was universal. Stealing would also eliminate the concept of property, lying would remove truth, so on and so forth.

Contradiction in Will

Unlike a contradiction in conception, a contradiction in willis a maxim that people wouldn’t want to do. Consider the maxim “I don’t want to help people if there’s no benefit to me.” In this world, no one would help you because there is no benefit. However, because we all want help from others, this goes against what a rational person would want, creating a contradiction in will.

Law of Humanity

Explanation

“Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never merely as a means, but always at the same time as an end.”

In simple terms, people’s humanity should be treated as an end and not by a means. Using people for a particular purpose is immoral under this law, like lying or deceiving someone for self-gain.

Duties

Perfect Duty

A perfect duty is a strict moral obligation that must always be followed, no matter the circumstances. For example, Kant argues that lying is always wrong, even if it seems to produce a good outcome. Breaking a perfect duty creates a contradiction in conception—universalizing the action would make it impossible.

Imperfect Duty

An imperfect duty is a moral obligation that must be followed, but it allows flexibility in how and when you fulfill it.Helping others is an imperfect duty—you don’t have to help everyone all the time, but you can’t ignore the duty altogether. Failing an imperfect duty creates a contradiction in will because you wouldn’t want to live in a world where no one helps others.