Bioethics Assignment 1

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Northeastern University *

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6381

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Philosophy

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Jan 9, 2024

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docx

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Uploaded by AgentSalamanderPerson867

1. Immanuel Kant: What is The Supreme Principle of Morality ? According to Immanuel Kant, ‘The Supreme Principle of Morality’ is the categorical imperative (Kant’s Moral Philosophy, 2022). The cornerstone of Kant's moral theory, the categorical imperative is the supreme rule for identifying moral obligations and assessing the morality of deeds. Morally worthy actions have to do with motive, quality of the will and the intention with which the act is done. Motive is crucial and it must be of a certain kind. Even if the good will accomplishes nothing, the motive, provided it is morally sound, confirms its moral worth. Kant argues that an action is morally permissible if and only if its underlying principle or "maxim" can be consistently and rationally willed as a universal law that applies to all rational beings. It requires individuals to act in a way that they could rationally will to become a universal moral law (Kerstein, n.d.). The motive of the duty carried out confirms morality. 2. Freedom- What is it? According to Kant, freedom is not just the ability to choose the best outcome out of possible outcomes. It is the ability to choose an entire outcome autonomously. It is not just the ability to do as one wants. Kant states freedom to be positive freedom, i.e. freedom as autonomy, and negative freedom, i.e. freedom from coercion (Ware, 2023). Freedom as autonomy is the ability to act according to one’s rational and moral laws. The explanation of freedom as stated above refers to positive freedom. It

is the capacity to make moral decisions based on one’s choices as opposed to making decisions to conform to universally moral principles. This type of freedom is a reflection of the moral values of a person because these values dictate a person’s choices. Individuals can act freely, but guided by moral duty. 3. What is the difference between autonomy vs heteronomy? What is the difference between categorical imperative & hypothetical imperative? Autonomy refers to the ability of not having to choose the best end, but choosing our own end. The ability to self-govern and make moral decisions is referred to as autonomy. It is a person’s capacity to make moral decisions and behave in accordance with reasoned norms and unbreakable moral rules (Autonomy and Heteronomy, n.d.). Heteronomy is the opposite of autonomy. It describes a situation in which a person's decisions are made or affected by external forces, including social conventions, outside authority, or internal motivations and inclinations ( Kant’s Theory and Autonomy Vs Heteronomy | ipl.org, n.d.). The Hypothetical Imperative is conditional and linked to particular objectives or wants, whereas the Categorical Imperative is an unconditional moral principle. The hypothetical imperative is subject to personal desires and goals, and is therefore conditional. The categorical imperative is unconditional and applies to all human beings. According to it, an action is morally correct if it is in accordance with a universal law that applies to everyone.

4. Explain freedom, duty, inclination & self-interest. Freedom refers to the ability of individuals to make choices without any external force or coercion. Duty refers to a moral obligation of acting according to a morally accepted law or norm. Inclination refers to personal desires, motives or preferences that make a person act a certain way. Self-interest refers to actions done by an individual keeping in mind personal well-being and benefit. 5. What is Utilitarianism? Has it got anything to do with morality? Utilitarianism is a major ethical theory that is highly concerned with morality and how moral judgements should be made. It is a normative ethical theory, which implies that it gives a framework for deciding what is ethically correct or incorrect. Utilitarianism is linked to the idea of maximizing ‘utility’ (Ethics Unwrapped, 2023). It controls how judgements are made, depending on the desire to maximize benefit or utility. 6. Are there any circumstances under which using another person for purposes not benefiting that person is consistent with the Supreme Principle of Morality? According to Kant’s theory, using an individual for purposes that do not benefit them goes against the Supreme Principle of Morality. However,

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