PHL275H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Universalizability, Kantianism, James Rachels
Document Summary
Part one: russ shafer-landau, the kantian perspective: autonomy and respect. No: the tax system would break down. The practice of cheating on your taxes would be ineffective. Angie would be acting unfairly because she"d be relying on everyone else not acting on the maxim. Yes: people would steer clear of immaculate lawns. The home owner is not acting unfairly because they don"t rely on everyone else not acting on the same maxim. Problem one: there are cases in which one"s maxim is universalizable, but in which they clearly perform a morally wrong action. Maybe kantianism isn"t the right way to deal with such cases, but this means. Acting immorally (acting on a not universalizable) = being unfair = being inconsistent = being irrational. An end: something valuable in itself (i. e. intrinsically valuable: respecting their autonomy, drive thru treating them nicely also using them to get your order. Distinctively human capacities: setting goals, achieving our goals, self-legislation.
