PHIL 2020 Lecture Notes - Categorical Imperative
Document Summary
Mills endorses virtues because of consequences, but its paradoxical. The good will only thing that"s unconditionally good. Good in and of itself (doesn"t depend on things like consequences) Good will is ushered into the world by reason produces the good will. Reason strips itself from hypothetical imperatives (incentives, consequences, passions - particular) world of nature. Achieves a categorical imperative (dignity, respect, sublimity - universal) world of ends. The good will is unconditional because it departs from the conditions. Ex: to purify my conditions for lying, i raise the maxim (which is subjective) into a universal law, but it is impossible because logically, everyone cannot always lie because deception must be possible. Freedom, autonomy is how we can raise our own particular goals to a universal law. Only way to think outside of your particular situation to the universe. He says it"s possible to get morality this way. When we make a moral decision, we use reason.
