module 2. lu 4 kant duty and universality
TRANSCRIPT
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Lawrence M. Hinman, Ph.D.Director, The Values InstituteUniversity of San Diego
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Immanuel Kantand the Ethics of Duty
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Overview
Part I. The Ethics of Duty
Part II. Universalizability and the
Categorical Imperative
Also see these presentations:
Kant and Respect
The Kantian Heritage: An
Assessment
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Part I.
The Ethics of Duty
More than any
other philosopher,
Kant emphasized theway in which the moral
life was centered on
duty.
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Two Conceptions of Duty
Duty as following orders The Adolph Eichmann model
Duty is external
Duty is imposed by others
Duty as freely imposing obligation on ones ownself
The Kantian model
Duty is internal
We impose duty on ourselves The second conception of duty is much more
morally advanced than the first.
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Duty and Following Orders
I had known the Categorical Imperative,but it was in a nutshell, in a summarizedform. I suppose it could be summarizedas, Be loyal to the laws, be a disciplinedperson, live an orderly life, do not comeinto conflict with lawsthat more or lesswas the whole essence of that law for the
use of the little man.
Adolph Eichmann
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Duty and Self-Interest
The example of Edmund Ross
He voted against Jacksons
impeachment as a matter of duty
The Grocer Example
The grocer with regular customers
might be honest just out of self-interest.
Duty and Utility: The SuicideExample
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Duty and Inclination
Kant was mistrustful of inclinations(Neigungen) as motivations
This was part of his view of the physicalworld as causally determined
Saw feelings as
Unreliable
Passive
Phenomenal
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The Man of Duty
Suppose then that the mind of this friend of man were overclouded bysorrows of his own which extinguished all sympathy with the fate of others,but that he still had power to help those in distress, though no longer stirredby the need of others because sufficiently occupied with his own; andsuppose that, when no longer moved by any inclination, he tears himself outof this deadly insensibility and does the action without any inclination for thesake of duty alone; then for the first time his action has its genuine moral
worth. Still further: if nature had implanted little sympathy in this or thatmans heart; if (being in other respects an honest fellow) he were cold intemperament and indifferent to the sufferings of othersperhaps because,being endowed with the special gift of patience and robust endurance in hisown sufferings, he assumed the like in others or even demanded it; if such aman (who would in truth not be the worst product of nature) were not exactlyfashioned by her to be a philanthropist, would he not still find in himself asource from which he might draw a worth far higher than any that a good-natured temperament can have? Assuredly he would. It is precisely in thisthat the worth of character begins to showa moral worth and beyond allcomparison the highestnamely, that he does good, not from inclination, butfrom duty.
--Groundwork of a Metaphysics of Morals
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Criticisms of the Ethics of Duty
Moral Minimalism
Requirements are not heartfelt
Moral Alienation
Alienated from feelings
Duty and Just Following Orders
This is not Kants genuine position
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Part II.
Universalizability and theCategorical Imperative
Central insight:
What is fair for one is fair for all
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Living by Rules
Most of us live by rules much of the
time. Some of these are what Kant
called Categorical Imperativesunconditional commands that are
binding on everyone at all times.
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Types of Imperatives
Hypothetical Imperative:
If you want to drive to UCLA from San
Diego, take the 405 freeway. Structure: ifthen
Categorical Imperative
Always tell the truth Unconditional, applicable at all times
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Maxims
Maxims, according to Kant, are subjectiverules that guide action. Relevant Act Description
Sufficient Generality
All actions have maxims, such as, Never lie to your friends.
Never act in a way that would make your
parents ashamed of you. Always watch out for number one.
Its ok to cheat if you need to.
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Categorical Imperatives:
Universality
Always act in such a way that the
maxim of your action can be willed
as a universal law of humanity.--Immanuel Kant
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Categorical Imperatives:
Respect
Always treat humanity, whether in
yourself or in other people, as an end
in itself and never as a mere means.--Immanuel Kant
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Categorical Imperative:
Publicity
Always act in such a way that you
would not be embarrassed to have
your actions described on the frontpage of The New York Times.
--Probably not Bill Clinton
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Categorical Imperatives:
Another example
I know the questions to ask. Its theanswers Im after. And what aboutlearning how to live? Isnt that philosophytoo? Whats yours?
The reply had come easily but, she hadthought, with honesty. To get as muchhappiness as I can. Not to harm others.Not to whine. In that order.Adam Dalgliesh, in reply to Kate Miskins question
P. D. James, A Certain J ustice
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Classroom Exercises
Most of us live by rules, obedience to
which we take as a duty.
What are the most important rules youlive by?
What were the most important rules in
your family? What rules have you rejected as you
have gotten older?
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Lying
Is it possible to universalize a maxim thatpermits lying?
What is the maxim?
Its ok to cheat when you want/need to? Can this consistently be willed as a
universal law?
No, it undermines itself, destroying the rational
expectation of trust upon which it depends.
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Academic Cheating
Cheating involves not playing by the
rules. Is it possible for the cheater to
will his/her maxim as a universallaw?
No, because then others (including
the teacher) could refuse to followthe rules as well, failing the cheater
even with a good grade.
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Exceptions
Are exceptions possible for Kant?
Yes, as long as they can be consistently
universalized
Examples The speeding car
We can universalize an exception for something like
ambulance drivers
The Gestapo example Can we universalize a maxim to deceive in order to
save innocent lives?
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Kant
and the Alleged Right to Tell a Lie
In an essay written near the end of his
life, Kant maintained that you are
never justified in telling a lie. Franco-Prussian rivalry
Beliefs about causalityif you do the
right thing, you are not responsible forbad outcomes.
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Conclusion
Kant saw that morality must be fair
and evenhanded.
The Kantian path offers a certainkind of moral safety in an uncertain
world.