Module 2. LU 4 Kant Duty and Universality

7/29/2019 Module 2. LU 4 Kant Duty and Universality

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Lawrence M. Hinman, Ph.D.Director, The Values InstituteUniversity of San Diego

2/21/2013 Lawrence M. Hinman 1

Immanuel Kantand the Ethics of Duty
mailto:[email protected]?subject=PowerPoint%20Presentationmailto:[email protected]?subject=PowerPoint%20Presentation


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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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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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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.

Documents

Module 2. LU 4 Kant Duty and Universality