PHILOS 2YY3 Chapter Kant: Reading 13 – Kant "The foundation of ethics"

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHILOS 2YY3
• Professor: James Sikkemma

Document Summary

Reading 13 kant the foundation of ethics . He outlines a rationalist ethical system centred in the notion of his categorical imperative as the fundamental principle of action. Duty and moral laws stems from a wholly empirical approach. Our moral obligations are a priori based on our pure reason: everything else are only rules and not moral laws. Section 1: transition from the ordinary rational knowledge of morality to the philosophical. The goodwill = a good without qualification: other things such as intelligence, wit, etc are also good but only good will has the ability to stay good and not be harmful. Only through a good will are we able to correct the potential harm that can arise from these other goods". All other goods are not intrinsic in themselves except the goodwill: rather, they are instrumental and always presuppose a good will (therefore they are not absolutely good) Good will sets limits on our instrumental goods.