PHI 2397 Chapter 2: Chapter 2- Kant’s Deontological Ethics

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHI 2397
• Professor: Sardar Hosseini

Document Summary

Immanuel kent (1742- 1804), german philosopher, is the most prominent advocate of deontological ethics. Ka(cid:374)t(cid:859)s ethi(cid:272)s is (cid:272)o(cid:374)(cid:272)er(cid:374)ed (cid:449)ith dut(cid:455) a(cid:374)d reaso(cid:374) Moralit(cid:455) is a (cid:373)atter of fulfilli(cid:374)g o(cid:374)e(cid:859)s dut(cid:455) Morality is a matter of following absolute rules. Deontological theories are best understood in contrast to consequentialist theories (eg. utilitarianism, egoism) Kant holds that an act cannot be judged by its consequences: (cid:862)a good (cid:449)ill is good (cid:374)ot (cid:271)e(cid:272)ause of (cid:449)hat it effe(cid:272)ts or a(cid:272)(cid:272)o(cid:373)plishes(cid:863) Kant believed that intentions behind an action were more important than the consequences. So, there should be no attention paid to consequences because they are far too difficult to predict and do(cid:374)"t take i(cid:374)to accou(cid:374)t your (cid:373)otivatio(cid:374)s/ i(cid:374)te(cid:374)tio(cid:374)s. Thus, deontology focuses on the rightness or wrongness of actions themselves, as opposed to the rightness or wrongness of the consequences of those actions. Unlike utilitarian-consequentialist theories of ethics, the end does not justify that means in principle-based theory of ethics.