Itohan Osayi - Assigment #5
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School
Fashion Institute Of Technology *
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Course
300
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
Pages
3
Uploaded by GrandSalmonPerson1036
Itohan Osayi
PL300-OL5
Business Ethics
3/8/2024
Assignment #5
(a) Explain the main features of Kantian ethics.
(a) Kantian ethics, formulated by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, revolves around the
idea of duty and moral obligation. The main features of Kantian ethics include:
●
Categorical Imperative: Kant proposed the concept of the categorical imperative as a
fundamental principle of morality. It dictates that an action is morally right if it can be
universally applied without contradiction. In other words, one should act according to
principles that could be consistently followed by everyone without leading to logical
inconsistencies.
●
Autonomy and Rationality: Kant emphasized the autonomy and rationality of moral agents.
According to Kant, individuals possess inherent worth and dignity because they have the
capacity to reason and make moral choices based on rational principles, rather than being
driven by mere desires or emotions.
●
Duty and Good Will: Kant argued that morality is grounded in the concept of duty rather
than consequences. He believed that an action's moral worth is determined by the intention
behind it, particularly the motive of duty performed out of respect for moral law. According
to Kant, the only intrinsically good thing is a good will—a will that acts out of duty,
irrespective of the consequences.
●
Universalizability: Kantian ethics emphasize the universality of moral principles. Actions
are evaluated based on whether the maxim (principle) behind them could be consistently
applied by everyone in similar situations without leading to contradictions or undermining
moral law.
(b) Explain the main differences between Kantian ethics and utilitarianism.
(b) The main differences between Kantian ethics and utilitarianism, another prominent ethical
theory, are as follows:
●
Basis of Morality: Kantian ethics is deontological, focusing on the inherent rightness or
wrongness of actions themselves, irrespective of their consequences. Utilitarianism, on the
other hand, is consequentialist, prioritizing the outcomes or consequences of actions in
determining their morality.
●
Principle vs. Consequences: Kantian ethics prioritizes adherence to moral principles and
duty, regardless of the consequences. In contrast, utilitarianism assesses the morality of
actions based on their ability to produce the greatest overall happiness or pleasure and
minimize suffering, often through the calculation of utility.
●
Universalizability vs. Utility: Kantian ethics emphasizes the universalizability of moral
principles, meaning that actions are judged based on whether they can be universally
applied without contradiction. Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing utility or happiness for
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