Kantian Ethics

Immanuel Kant the founder of the "Categorical Imperative" (CI) argues that morality is based on standards of rationality. Therefore, to act in disaccord with the CI is to act irrationally or immorally. In comparison to Christianity, to act immorally is to act in disagreement with God's laws. Kant's CI is formulated into three different ways, which include: The Universal Law Formulation, The Humanity or End in Itself Formulation, and The Kingdom of Ends Formulation (Stanford) . The first to formulas combine to create the final formulation. Christianity closely relates to each formula, except for the final formulation. Christianity provides context where following the CI will not result in moral

Kant argues that mere conformity with the moral law is not sufficient for moral goodness. I will argue that Kant is right. In this essay I will explain why Kant distinguishes between conforming with the moral law and acting for the sake of the moral law, and what that distinction means to Kant, before arguing why Kant was right.

The study of ethics is the study of right and wrong in human behavior. The R.v Lavallee case revolves around ethics. The court released Lavallee as innocent on the basis that she is medically ill with Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS). The two most renowned ethicists, Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill would view this case differently. Kantianism is associated solely with Immanuel Kant. In comparison, John Stuart Mill, an opponent of Immanuel Kant’s ideas, uses a utilitarian approach. This essay will briefly give an overview of the case and the BWS. Then, it will show how both theories view the case. Overall, this paper argues that Mill’s theory is a better theory that supports the verdict.

So many people put their lives on the line for the sake of this country. It would be nice if, after all the damages they suffered, there was organization that could help them recover that bit of life they lost in war; that would not mislead them with false promises, or squander their money. The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) has been one of the best-known organizations providing assistance to Iraq- and Afghanistan- war veterans for the last several years. But as time has gone one the organization has broken down, and is lately the focus of negative media attention after it CEO, Steven Nardizzi and COO, Al Girodano, who were accused of lavishly spending over $800 million in donations to the WWP. The following paper therefore analyzes the background

Immanuel Kant states that the only thing in this world that is “good without qualification” is the good will. He states the attributes of character such as intelligence, wit, and judgment are considered good but can be used for the wrong reasons. Kant also states that the attributes of good fortune such as health, power, riches, honor, that provide one happiness can also be used in the wrong way (7). In order to understand Kant’s view of moral rightness, one must understand that only a good will is unambiguously good without qualification, it is “good in itself”. To clarify, Kant states that “a good will is good not because of what it effects or

Another lesson that Christians can learn from Immanuel Kant, is his philosophy that is in line with the Golden Rule. The Golden rule is the principle according to which you shall treat others as you want to be treated by them. The Golden rule implies a person to expect nothing in return. It is a guiding principle for a pure act of altruism. It is one of the formulations of the categorical imperative given by Immanuel Kant. Do to others what you would want to be done to you. Christians should analyze and learn that the categorical imperative exists in the Christian teaching of love. Political or social boundaries do not limit love. It is related to the inner quality of life and depends solely on the feelings and actions of an individual. It

There are many portrayals of the apocalypse in modern media, depicting gory battles and desperate fights for life. But what people don’t consider is what happens after the initial destruction of civilization. For Joe, that is the world he lives in. Joe, has managed to become the only human to survive the apocalypse, and now lives the rest of his days by himself. Eventually and inevitably, Joe becomes bored, and in his post-apocalyptic boredom, he decides to go on a quest to kill all animals and plants left on earth.

Again, the reading from Kant proves difficult to read. However, the part discussing examples of duties I found to be quite interesting. In relation to the last example when it mentions that all human beings should help others in need, I came to question if people actually carry out this duty throughout all aspects of their life? I also questioned when people do assist others in need, if they actively think and register their actions as a duty since as human beings we have a moral responsibility to help others.

According to Lucas and O’Neil, we should determine the moral permissibility of an action by seeing whether the action is universally justified by those around us. Furthering on this idea, one cannot act in a way that places you as the sole exception to principles that we otherwise believe rightly obligate everyone else. Furthermore, one ought never to perform an action without the full knowledge and consent of those involved. Through this idea, Kantian ethics aims to eliminate deceit by granting others the basic right to not be unknowingly caught up in one’s own self-serving strategies. As O’Neill relates, one cannot use another as a “mere means” in their scheme of action. This means that one must commit actions that do not intentionally manipulate others as a mere tool for their actions. To determine whether an action is permissible, Kantian ethics considers whether the scheme of action utilizes others as mere means. If it does not, then the action is permissible. If the action uses someone

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore-- a graphic novel with the man who was tortured from room number V at Larkhill-- the man who now goes by the name of “V” and is the main character in V for Vendetta. Initially, he comes off as having an unstable mind and debatably without any morals. Contrastly, throughout the story’s progression, his character becomes deeper and more profound, showing an underlying grand scheme to overthrow the dystopian and totalitarian government of Great Britain-- with an obvious indifference to the actual value of human life. V’s self-evaluation and mentality is that of a deity-- he views himself as the ultimate authority, and, regardless of blowing government buildings up, killing people, and terrorizing his own country, he

“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?

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

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)

Morality refers to the concept of proper human action in terms of "right and wrong," also referred to as "good and evil. According to Hobbes (1994:11), morality is simply a declaration of rules and beliefs that are considered absolute guides for human behaviour. According to Hare (1981:27), “Morality is a system of principles and judgments based on cultural, religious, and philosophical concepts and beliefs, by which humans determine whether given actions, are right or wrong.” Moral values and graciousness, in the past, were prominent in most teenagers. Every individual has capacity for growth. But a seed cannot grow without nurturing. And farmers don’t get to neglect their crops. So moral values has to be inculcated from infancy. Many years