PHL 503 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Deontological Ethics, Acquaintance Rape, Universalizability
19 Nov 2018
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According to kant, an action is morally right when it is undertaken purely for the sake of duty alone. However, an individual is able to act in conformity with duty while still having ulterior motives - this does not qualify as morally right. For example, a salesman has a duty to offer a fair price to his customers. However, he doesn"t do this just out of pure obligation, he also is motivated by the competition. Kant describes the case of a person who is faced with adversity and hopeless grief, yet obeys his duty to preserve his life. The preservation of life is a duty, and almost everybody is inclined to do so. However in this case, the man that is actually disinclined to preserve his life, but does so anyone out of pure duty, deems it to be a moral action. Aristotle would analyse this person"s actions in terms of whether they were voluntary, involuntary, or non-voluntary.
