Philosophy 2074F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Deontological Ethics, Orbital Inclination
1 Nov 2016
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Lecture #4 - Paper by Heather the Kant
• Deontology is not thinking about consequences.
• Deontology -> duty -> categorical
• Deontology is a theory that concerns itself with duty and not consequences.
3 maxims and a shopkeeper - Types of Motivation
• Self Interest: Imagine you run a shop, people visit - but candy, you as a shopkeeper don't deceive
the people that come to your store (conform with duty). He doesn't shortchange the kids that
come into his store because he's worried about his reputation. He's doing what he's ought to do
because of self-interest
• Character: this shop keeper doesn't shortchange or deceive anyone because that just how he was
raised. He was an honest guy, good of character
o Not the best one because it's easier for him to do the right thing, he's inclined towards
honesty. It's not difficult for him, he's not resisting anything
• Moral law or duty (Acts out of regard for the law): might not have a deep sense of honesty, not
motivated by self-interested but is motivated by moral law/duty. It's his moral law to not cheat
o He's the most moral of all because he's not doing something because there may be some
good reward at the end of it, he's only doing it because it's simply the right thing to do.
o This guy has to resist his disposition to do the right thing, it's not simply in his nature to do
just do the right thing.
o Why? Self-interest and character are contingent
• Contingency: All three conform with duty because they all decide not to steal from
the kids, but the third is different because only number three appropriately
motivated; by sake of duty. Their reason trumps psychology - they do it no matter
what their psychological make-up is.
• Self-interest: if the shop keeper was certain that his reputation won't get harmed, he
probably will cheat. He wants to cheat but he fears he's gona get caught and his
profits will get effected. If he thinks he can get away with it, he probably will do it
• Character: we all have different psychological make ups,
Will
• Reason: the only thing that is universal is reason - everyone can put away anything that's shaped
throughout their life and can appeal to their formal reasoning: all humans can spot contradictions
and then avoid those contradictions
o Categorical
o Reason is not universal because some people reason through religion or are secular in
reasoning
• Inclination: anything that's hypothetical, psychological, empirical, anything that's outside of
reason, sensuous nature.
o No moral worth is actions are determined w reason
Kant's two formulations at the categorical imperative:
1. Act only according to that maxim (rule or principle) whereby you can at the same time will that
it should become a universal law (pg 31)
o Explanation: maxims can pertain to any action, in this case a false promise.
• Imagine situation: you're in need of cash, desperately. You approach someone and
ask if they'd lend you money. The lender says I will, only if you pay me back (the
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