Emmanuel Kant Notes PDF

1.3 Emmanuel Kant Notes - Immanuel Kant was born and raised in Kőnigsberg, a small city in east Russia now part of northeast Germany. - His parents were devout members of a Protestant sect known as Pietism. Pietists believed in personal devotion, Bible reading, and the unive...

1.3 Emmanuel Kant Notes - Immanuel Kant was born and raised in Kőnigsberg, a small city in east Russia now part of northeast Germany. - His parents were devout members of a Protestant sect known as Pietism. Pietists believed in personal devotion, Bible reading, and the universal priesthood of all the faithful. They lived severe, puritanical lives. - Kant spent his whole life near his home. Apparently, he never ventured more than 100 km from his birthplace. His life, even from the age of eight, was a routine of study and work. - Kant studied at the local university, and upon completing his studies, made a living working as a private tutor. Later, he worked as a private teacher at the university, paid directly by the students. When he was forty-six years old, he was finally hired by the university as a professor of logic and metaphysics. - Kant wrote many books—some of them are among the most difficult to comprehend. His Critique of Pure Reason (1781, 1787) was at least 12 years of reflection, and four or five months of hurried writing. In fact, you will find some of the longest sentences ever written in that book - Deontological: means DUTY - Kant doesn't care about how noble the action is, he cares about the intentions and motives behind that action was. - If you enjoy doing something than it’s not a moral act - Practical sense: can't prove it but u can feel it (byproduct) Kant’s Ethics: - Like Aristotle, Kant believed the good is the aim of moral life. Kant, however, approached the whole question of how one attains the good in quite a different way. - His primary concern was about the certainty of the principles of ethical reasoning. Kant recognized that in the domain of ethics, we cannot arrive at the same type of certainty as we can in physics and mathematics.Like Aristotle, Kant believed the good is the aim of moral life. Kant, however, approached the whole question of how one attains the good in quite a different way. - Ethics presents us not with rational, cognitive certainty, but with practical certainty - In this practical (sense) area of our lives, Kant believed that there are three areas of interest: 1. God 2. Freedom 3. Immortality - Deontological: means DUTY and OBLIGATION - Kant doesn't care about how noble the action is, he cares about the intentions and motives behind that action was. - If you enjoy doing something than it’s not a moral act - Practical sense: can't prove it but u can feel it (byproduct) - We may not be able to prove any of these empirically, but we need these practical principles to be able to pursue and attain the supreme good. Empiricism is a theory that  says that knowledge comes from experience, or from evidence that can be perceived by the senses. - If the supreme good is to be, in part, our achievement, then what we ought to do, we can do–To have the duty to do something, we must be able to do it. - Achieving the supreme good is an immense task. It is impossible to obtain it completely in this life. - That is why there is immortality, a life beyond, in which we can achieve the supreme good - He encouraged all people to act as if they were members of this kingdom, always acting out of respect for the other. In this kingdom all would act out of their rational will. No one would act on any principle that could not be made universal, for personal benefit, because of how one happened to feel about something, or because of any compulsion that came from personal philosophical or religious views. - Any Genocide, people are treated like objects Review Of Kant’s Theory Of The Good: 1. The only good is good will. 2. Good is only good if it is done out of good will and provides no personal gain. 3. An act is not moral if you enjoy doing it. 4. Moral acts are performed out of duty and obligation. 5. Reason dictates what is good Homework pg 17 #1-3 1. Identify three key points from the ethical theory of Kant. ❖ The Categorical Imperative: Kant proposed the idea of the Categorical Imperative, which is a principle that helps us decide what is right and wrong. It means we should act in a way that we would want everyone else to act too. For example, if you think it's okay to lie, then you should be okay with everyone else lying. The Categorical Imperative encourages us to treat everyone fairly and equally, as if our actions could become universal laws. ❖ Duty and Moral Law: Kant believed that morality is based on duty rather than consequences. This means that we should do the right thing because it's our responsibility, not just to get a reward or avoid punishment. For instance, if you see someone drop their  books, you should help them because it’s the right thing to do, not just to get praise. Following moral laws is essential, and these laws come from reason and are applicable to everyone. ❖ Respect for Persons: Kant emphasized that we should always treat people as ends in themselves, not merely as means to an end. This means we should respect everyone's dignity and autonomy. For example, if you're working on a group project, you shouldn't use your teammates just to get a good grade; instead, you should value their contributions and treat them with respect. This idea encourages us to recognize the worth of every individual. 2. How would Kant describe “the good”? ❖ Moral Worth: For Kant, something is considered "good" if it is done out of a sense of duty and adheres to moral laws. He believed that actions have moral worth when they are motivated by a desire to do what is right, not by personal gain or consequences. So, helping someone because it’s the right thing to do—rather than for a reward—would be considered a truly good action. ❖ The Good Will: Kant emphasized the concept of the "good will" as the highest form of good. A good will is the intention to act according to moral principles. It means making choices based on reason and duty, rather than emotions or desires. For Kant, a good will is essential for determining what is truly good, regardless of the outcome of the actions. ❖ Universality: Kant believed that for an action to be considered good, it must be applicable universally. This means that the principles behind our actions should be ones that everyone could adopt without contradiction. If an action can’t be universalized (like lying), it can't be considered morally good. 3. In light of Kant’s understanding of the good person, describe someone significant in your life that meets his criteria. This person always seems to act out of a sense of duty. For example, they help students not just because they want to be liked or praised, but because they genuinely care about helping others succeed. Their motivation aligns with doing what is right, reflecting a good will. They live by principles that they would want everyone to follow. Whether it's standing up against bullying or encouraging honesty, their actions are guided by values they believe should be universal. This aligns with Kant’s idea that a good person’s actions should be justifiable as a universal law. This individual treats everyone with respect and dignity, recognizing the inherent worth of each person. They listen to others, value their opinions, and encourage their growth. By treating others as ends in themselves, they exemplify Kant’s belief in respecting the autonomy and dignity of individuals.