Immanuel Kant's Moral Philosophy: Duty and Ethics

Immanuel Kant: "Doing What You Ought"

Highest Principle: Justice

Kant's highest principle is justice, emphasizing respect for individual rights. Moral rules can be broken, even if it makes people happy.

The Importance of Motive

Only the motive matters. The only morally good motive is the motive of duty, doing the right thing because it is right.

Acting Freely

When we satisfy our appetites, we are not acting freely because we are driven by the laws of our biology. We act freely in accordance with moral law, which is reason.

The Categorical Imperative

The moral law tells us what our duty is through the categorical imperative, an unconditional moral obligation that is binding in all circumstances and is not dependent on a person's inclination or purpose. It is the only good way to act. For example, helping an elderly lady to cross the road simply because it's the right thing to do.

Hypothetical Imperative

A hypothetical imperative is acting in order to receive some kind of reward. For example, "I want to be an engineer, so I must study math."

Universalizability

Universalizability means that a moral principle must be applied to all people who are in a similar situation. What is fair for one is fair for all. For example, lying violates universalizability because lying presupposes and exploits a general practice of telling the truth.

Applying Universalizability

• Formulate your rule as clearly as possible.
• Imagine a world where everyone supports this rule.
• Can the goal of my actions be achieved in that world?

Principle of Humanity

The principle of humanity states that we should always treat others as an end in themselves and never merely as a means. For example, when someone is lying, I don't have the right to lie to them just because they did. I have the duty to tell the truth no matter what.

Dignity, Freedom, and Rationality

Dignity comes from freedom and rationality. We are not permitted to treat a person as an object.

Perfect and Imperfect Duties

• Perfect duties: Be honest, don't lie, don't steal.
• Imperfect duties: Help others to achieve their goals.

Strengths of Kant's Philosophy

• Explains why we have universal rights because we are rational and free creatures.
• All forms of exploitation are morally wrong.
• Impartiality: all rational and free agents should be treated equally.

Weaknesses of Kant's Philosophy

• It is never permitted to lie.
• Kant places too much emphasis on the motive.