Immanuel Kant Ethical Formalism

Kant's deontological moral theory also claims that the right action in any given situation is determined by the categorical imperative, which provides a formulation by which we can apply our human reason to determine the right and rational thing to do, which is our duty to do it. This imperative applies to all rational beings independent of their desires and that reason tells us to follow no matter what. By his categorical imperative we

The categorical imperative suggests that a course of action must be followed because of its rightness and necessity. The course of action taken can also be reasoned by its ability to be seen as a universal law. Universal laws have been deemed as unconditional commands that are binding to everyone at all times. Kant

Ethical formalism is the good that conforms to the categorical imperative (University of Phoenix, 2005). I also

Society, as we know it, is only possible through humans acting in accordance with a universal moral code. Because we as humans are rational beings and have free choice, we can make our own decisions, can hold ourselves to a standard that we ourselves set, and can act in accordance with our standards, as well as set standards for our own society. However, these standards must be held, otherwise they hold no meaning. Kant uses a black and white tactic, in order to determine which actions are moral and immoral. However, Kant’s downfall is his strength. The black and white tactic makes everything very clear, but it lacks the complexity needed to handle more sophisticated problems and decisions. Black and white does not take into account all the shades of gray between, and Kant needs to take into account all the shades of factors that impact human decision-making.

As previously mentioned, categorical imperative is defined as the unconditional moral obligation to perform actions that go beyond individual feelings and purposes.

The first formulation of the categorical imperative is “act only in a way the maxim of which can be consistently willed as a universal law of nature.” This formulation in principle has as its supreme law, “always act according to that maxim whose universality as a law you can at the same time will” and is the only condition under which a will can ever

Decision Alternatives: Currently the Vice President is faced with a daunting decision. The CEO has clearly expressed her position not to disclose the company’s situation. The knowledge of the chemically contaminated tanks, buried beneath company headquarters, is entrusted to a few key individuals. I would now like to discuss another author by the name of Peter A. French. In an excerpt of “The Corporation as a Moral Person” French states, “corporations can be full-fledged moral persons and have whatever privileges, rights and duties as are in the normal course of affairs accorded to moral persons” (French, 1979). Peter French argues that corporations have “responsibility relationships.” By identifying who is responsible, one can simultaneously determine who is liable. Corporations, as Peter French would argue, have a social responsibility.

“There is no possibility of thinking of anything at all in this world, or even out of it, which can be regarded as good without qualifications, except a good will.” (Kant, pg.7 393). No other thing that may appear good can be unqualifiedly good, as even “Talents of the mind…Gifts of power…[Other] qualities…Have no intrinsic unconditional worth, but they always presuppose, rather, a good will, which restricts the high esteem in which they are otherwise rightly held.” (Kant, pg.7 393-394). So Immanuel Kant introduces the public to his Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, which results not in simply a grounding work, but one that is utterly groundbreaking. This opener, wholly devoted to the establishment of the importance of will and intention, notes the guiding characteristics of a good will. As enumerated previously, Kant recognizes the plausible potential positivity of plenty concepts, but remains of the mind that none of these are good in themselves without the efforts of a good will to guide and restrict them in a manner that perpetuates their positivity.

In the late 18th century one of the most influential philosophers by the name of Immanuel Kant introduced the third major ethical philosophy, Deontology. The basis behind Deontology is that people are duty bound to act morally by certain standards despite the outcome. Determining whether a person’s actions are morally right involves look at the intent of the actions. Like other ethic theories, Deontologist applies the golden rule of treating other people the way you would want them to treat you. Deontology can be broken down into three different theories: agent-centered, patient centered, and contractualist. Each branch of Deontology can be traced back in some way to Immanuel Kant. Can Deontology be applied to today’s society?

Immanuel Kant concerns himself with deontology, and as a deontologist, he believes that the rightness of an action depends in part on things other than the goodness of its consequences, and so, actions should be judged based on an intrinsic moral law that says whether the action is right or wrong – period. Kant introduced the Categorical Imperative which is the central philosophy of his theory of morality, and an understandable approach to this moral law. It is divided into three formulations. The first formulation of Kant’s Categorical Imperative states that one should “always act in such a way that the maxim of your action can be willed as a universal law of humanity”; an act is either right or wrong based on its ability to be

German philosopher Kant was first to introduce the Kantian ethics; hence, the named after him. According to Professor Elizabeth Anscombe, Immanuel Kant was Unitarianism’s rival; he believed actions that are taboo should be completely prohibited at all times. For instance, murder should be prohibited. Even though nowadays a person cannot be punished if death is involved as a self defense, from Kant’s perspective this is still prohibited, although sometimes these actions bring more happiness to the big majority of people than sorrow. Kant stated that before acting, one should ask his/her self: am I acting rationally and in a way that everyone will act as I purpose to act? Is my action going to respect the moral law or just my own purpose? If the answer to those questions is a no, the action must be abandoned. Kant’s theory is an example of the deontological theory that was developed in the age of enlightenment. According to Elizabeth, these theories say that “the rightness or wrongness of actions does not depend on their consequences but on whether they fulfill our duty.”( Anscombe, 2001) Kant said that morality is built based on what he called “Hypothetical Imperatives”, but rather principles called “Categorical Imperatives” he referred to it as the supreme principle of morality. (Texas A&M University, n.d.) Cavico and Mujtaba reported on their book that Kant stated that morality

Deontology is an ethical principle that is more concerned with actions rather than the consequences for the actions. This principle was created to bring attention to the correlation between duty and moral actions. Immanuel Kant was the first philosopher to use moral theories and human reasoning to define deontology. DeGeorge mentioned the three formal conditions under Kant’s categorical imperative for an action to be considered moral: (1) it must be amenable to being made consistently universal, (2) it must respect rational beings as ends in themselves, and (3) it must stem from respect the autonomy of rational beings. This universal and imperative way of thinking encourages ethical decision-making that holds everyone accountable for their duty to behave in a manner that morally obeys the law.

Kantian ethics emphasizes on two conditions for an action to be morally good. The first, that an action only has moral worth if it is done for the sake of duty. The second is that an action is considered right if its maxim can be willed as a universal law. Kantian ethics then is working on the basis of duty and universality. In failing to recognize the multiple aspects of morality, Kantian ethics shows inadequacy as a moral theory. (Hinman, 2008)

B. The categorical imperative is the foundation of morality. Do you agree? Discuss with reference to Kant ethical theory?

Kant’s ethics formulation is based on categorical imperatives (CI) that bind us to fulfil our duty regardless of our desires, circumstances, and even interests. These imperatives are based on reasons or motives to act benevolently. Decision-makers have an obligation to sue rational decisions by virtue of being rational agents. CI tackle universalizability, humanity as an end in itself, the formula of autonomy, and the Kingdom of Ends. Merely, an action must pass the three imperatives to be taken, and people are acting purely morally based on rational will in lieu external influences.