PHIL 1100 Lecture Notes - Categorical Imperative, Immanuel Kant, Kantian Ethics
Document Summary
Deontology: the ethical view that moral value is determined by fulfilling one"s duty: deon = duty, what we ought to do, universal, reason. Kant attempts to establish the universal reason and morality. Those laws and foundations are a priori : a law that is a priori is one that we can be certain is true independently of its application to actual experience. Kant uses a top-down approach (normative descriptive) Motivist: intentions not a consequence. Kantian ethics: the preeminent good, which we call moral, can therefore consist in nothing else than the conception of law itself, which certainly is only possible in a rational being, apply reason. These statements do not need further justification. Duty: choose between freedom or moral character. Categorical imperative: a maxim that commands moral obligation independent of experience or consequences. It is derived from pure reason and always carries overriding value: don"t exploit people. Do not treat people as a mere means.
