Kantian Ethics
Benjamin Visscher Hole IV
Phil 240, Intro to Ethical Theory
W5,L3
Agenda
1.
2.
Clicker Quiz
The Universal Law Formulation of the Categorical
Imperative
•
•
Review
Discuss
Please set your
Turning
Technology
Clicker to channel
41
Press “Ch”, then
“41”, then “Ch”
According to Kant, morality
requires us to:
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
90%
10%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
rfo
ac r m
t o th
e
b e n ly a c
ha on tio
v
m n
ac e o ax tha
t o nl
im t
nl y in s t .. .
pl y o
su ha
ac
e n m ch t . .
th
e axim a w
in
te s w a...
re
s t h ic
s o h.
f o ..
th
. ..
B
an
d
al
lo B C
a
no f
ne the nd D
of ab
th ov
e
e
ab .
ov
e.
B.
perform the action that leads to
the greatest total happiness.
act only on maxims that we can
will to become universal laws.
behave only in such a way as a
perfectly virtuous person would
behave.
act only on maxims which treat
rational beings, including
oneself, as ends in themselves.
place the interests of others
above the interests of
ourselves.
B and C
B and D
all of the above.
none of the above.
pe
A.
Kant claims that the dictates of
morality are:
D.
E.
F.
G.
10%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
ly
bi
hy
po ndin
th
g
et
fo
ra
i
c
al
ca
im ll. ..
te
go
pe
r ic
ra
al
t iv
i
m
es
m
a
.
xim per
co
a
nt
al
t
ra
im ives
ct
.
ar
pe
ia
ra
n
tiv
im
es
pe
.
r
al
a
t
lo
ive
ft
s.
no
he
ne
ab
of
ov
th
e.
e
ab
ov
e.
C.
90%
or
al
B.
morally binding for all
members of the
human species.
hypothetical
imperatives.
categorical
imperatives.
maximal imperatives.
contractarian
imperatives.
all of the above.
none of the above.
m
A.
Which of the following is NOT one of Kant’s 4 examples
of duties entailed by the universal law formulation of
the categorical imperative?
Th
to
ut
y
0%
0%
0%
0%
de
e
lyi
ve
..
lo
ed
Th
p
ut
ed
yo
yt
ur
ut
o
. ..
yt
r
en
o
pr
d
om er
ai
ot
d
e
th
Al
e.
lo
..
f
th
No
e
ne
ab
of
ov
e
th
e
ab
ov
e
ak
m
no
t
to
Th
ed
ut
y
re
fra
i
n
fro
m
. ..
0%
to
f.
g.
10%
ed
e.
Th
d.
ut
y
c.
90%
ed
b.
The duty to refrain
from suicide
The duty to not
make lying promises
The duty to develop
your talents
The duty to render
aid
The duty to promote
the happiness of all
sentient beings
All of the above
None of the above
Th
a.
The Universal Law
Formulation of the
Categorical Imperative
Kantian Ethics

“Act only according to that maxim by which you
can at the same time will that it should become a
universal law of nature.”

“An action is right if and only if one can (a)
consistently conceive of everyone adopting and
acting on the general policy of one’s action, and
also (b) consistently will that everyone act on
that maxim” (Timmons, 17).
CI: The Formula of Universal Law
Kant’s Four Examples
Perfect Duties

“A perfect duty is one
that strictly requires
certain specific actions,
with no choice or
leeway” (B/B, 358).

Determined by the
contradiction in
conception test.
◦ E.g., The lying promise
Kinds of duties
Imperfect Duties

“an imperfect duty is
one that can be fulfilled
in several different
ways, among which the
agent may choose, and
thus no one of which is
strictly required” (B/B,
358).

Determined by the
contradiction in will
test.
◦ E.g., The duty to render
mutual aid.
1.
2.
3.
4.
You should only do those actions that conform
to rules that you could will to be adopted
universally.
If you were to make an insincere promise, you
would be following the rule: when I believe
myself to be in need of money, I shall borrow
money and promise to repay it, even though I
have no intention of repaying it.
This rule could not be adopted universally,
because it would be self-contradicting.
Therefore, you ought not to make lying
promises.
Kant’s Argument
1.
2.
3.
4.
You should only do those actions that conform
to rules that you could will to be adopted
universally.
If you were to refuse to aid others in need, you
would be following the rule: when I believe
others to be in need I will not aid them.
This rule could not be willed universally,
because it would defeat the rational will’s
wider purposes. (A universal law would imply
that others never help you when you are in
need.)
Therefore, you should accept the (imperfect)
duty to aid others in need.
Kant’s Argument

Problem: You have Nazi’s
at your door asking, “Do
you know where any
Jews are?”

Does Kant give us the
right answer?
Rigorism
The rigorism objection.
Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat
Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly
Disagree
A.
40%
20%
20%
20%
0%
0%
Ag
re
e
ha
tA
gr
ee
So
Ne
m
ew
ut
ra
ha
l
tD
isa
gr
ee
D
St
isa
ro
gr
ng
ee
ly
Di
sa
gr
ee
ew
So
m
St
ro
ng
ly
Ag
r
ee
0%
The Sneaky Maxim Maker Objection
◦ MacIntyre: “the Categorical Imperative
imposes restrictions only on those
insufficiently equipped with ingenuity”
(A Short History of Ethics, 198).
Is universalizability vacuous and
conservative?
What’s the maxim?
The Sneaky Maxim Maker
Objection
Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat
Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly
Disagree
A.
50%
20%
10%
10%
ew
Ag
re
e
ha
tA
gr
ee
So
Ne
m
ew
ut
ra
ha
l
tD
isa
gr
ee
D
St
isa
ro
gr
ng
ee
ly
Di
sa
gr
ee
0%
So
m
St
ro
ng
ly
Ag
r
ee
0%
10%
“[Kant] fails, almost grotesquely, to
show that there would be any
contradiction, any logical (not to say
physical) impossibility in the adoption
by all rational beings of the most
outrageously immoral rules of
conduct … All he shows is that the
consequences of their universal
adoption would be such as no one
would choose to incur”
(Utilitarianism, Ch. 3).
Is Kant guilty of covert
consequentialism?
Mill’s Criticism
The Covert Consequentialism
Objection
Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat
Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly
Disagree
A.
14%
14%
14%
14%
14%
Ag
re
e
ha
tA
gr
ee
So
Ne
m
ew
ut
ra
ha
l
tD
isa
gr
ee
D
St
isa
ro
gr
ng
ee
ly
Di
sa
gr
ee
14%
ew
So
m
St
ro
ng
ly
Ag
r
ee
14%
The Universal Law Formulation of the CI: “Act only
according to that maxim by which you can at the same
time will that it should become a universal law of
nature.”
Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat
Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly
Disagree
A.
14%
14%
14%
14%
14%
Ag
re
e
ha
tA
gr
ee
So
Ne
m
ew
ut
ra
ha
l
tD
isa
gr
ee
D
St
isa
ro
gr
ng
ee
ly
Di
sa
gr
ee
14%
ew
So
m
St
ro
ng
ly
Ag
r
ee
14%