Kant
The highest good (summum
bonum) as the goal of morality
Key terms so far
Rationalism
 Empiricism
 Deontological
 Absolute
 Innate Morality
 Universalisable principles
 Summum Bonum


The only intrinsically good reason for moral action is
the ‘good will’.

Acting according to the good will means you do an
action because it is good to do, not because of any
consequences.

Kant gave the example of a shopkeeper.

Kant concludes that the act which is in accordance
with the ‘good will’ is doing an action because it is
the right thing to do and it achieves the Summum
Bonum (the highest good).
The highest good and Virtue

The highest good is according to Kant found in virtue

What is a virtue and a vice?

Kant defines virtue as “the moral strength of a human
being's will in fulfilling his duty” and vice as “principled
immorality”.

In other words for Kant virtue is about fulfilling moral
principles set out by our rationality and is what brings
about happiness
Kant’s moral argument

We are required to attain the summum bonum
(the highest good)
◦ Reason tells us that obedience should bring about
the summum bonum
◦ But sometimes our obedience can lead to
misinterpretation
 This can lead to more suffering
◦ The summum bonum must involve both perfect virtue
and perfect happiness
Kant’s moral argument

We can only be obliged to do something that
we can actually do
◦ Kant’s assumption
◦ We must be able to fulfil our obligation
Kant’s moral argument

We cannot reach the summum bonum with the
assistance of God
◦ We are not the cause of the world
◦ We do not have the power to achieve SB
◦ Even if we could achieve perfect morality we
cannot guarantee connecting it with perfect
happiness
Kant’s moral argument

Since we are obliged to attain the summum
bonum, God must exist to ensure that we can
achieve that which we are obliged to do.
◦ If we cannot attain the SB on our own we need help
◦ It follows that such help must be the best and must
therefore be God
Written Task

Explain Kant’s arguments that a moral action
must be free and yet that morality must
ultimately be justified by the highest good. You
can do this as a table if you like of freedom and
justifiable

To what extent do you find these arguments
problematic?