Chapter 2.2 - Ethical Theories PDF

Moral Systems, Ethical Concepts & Theories Topic No. 2 Lecture No. 2  Kantianism 1-2  Who was kant? Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) was born in a tiny village in Germany called Königsberg, and never travelled more than 10 miles outside of it during his entire life. He had a very strict routin...

Moral Systems, Ethical Concepts & Theories Topic No. 2 Lecture No. 2  Kantianism 1-2  Who was kant? Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) was born in a tiny village in Germany called Königsberg, and never travelled more than 10 miles outside of it during his entire life. He had a very strict routine – the story goes that local people in Königsberg used to set their watches by the time Kant went by on this daily walk! But he is perhaps the most influential philosopher of the past 300 years.  Kantianism/Deontology The Greek root deon means duty. Kantianism Theory says.. People’s actions are guided by the universal moral laws. These laws are based on logical reasons i.e. A Kantian can explain why an action is right or wrong. Many moral laws can also be found in religious books.  Kantianism/Deontology Kantianism is based on a universal principle which is treat everyone equally and respectfully Kant argued that morality must ultimately be grounded in the concept of duty, or obligations that humans have to one another, and never in the consequences of human actions.  Good Will Kant argued that most things we think of as good are not always good. Intelligence, wealth etc. could always be used for evil. For Kant, the only thing that is always good in itself is a good will. (This is a kind of drive to do the right thing, whatever it is.) People with good-will often accomplish good deeds, but producing beneficial outcomes is not what makes a good-will good. A good will is good in and of itself. Even if a person’s best efforts at doing good should fall short and cause harm, the good- will behind the efforts is still good.  The importance of universalizability Since a good will is the only thing that is universally good, the proper function of reason is to cultivate a will that is good in itself. We should want to act in a certain way because it is right, not because of the consequences. Our job as moral agents is to work out what our duties are, and then to follow them. This means that, for Kant, moral laws must be universal – they must be the kind of laws that everyone could discover and follow. Kantianism/Deontology This theory states, “what makes an action right or wrong is the principle inherent in the action. If an action is done from a sense of duty and if the principle of action can be universalized, then the action is right.”  Kantianism/Deontology Examples: telling the truth can be universalized. murder cannot be universalized – if everybody murdered people who they did not like then there would be no people left! lying cannot be universalized – if everybody lied then nobody would believe what anybody says, and lying would be pointless! The “categorical imperative” Since moral laws must be universal, they cannot depend on a particular person’s circumstances or their desires. Kant called these laws “categorical imperatives” – they identify principles that we should all always follow. This is in contrast with “hypothetical imperatives” – principles that we should follow only if we have certain desires.  Categorical Imperative (1st Formulation) “Act only from moral rules that you can, at the same time will to be universal moral laws.” It means if an action can be universalized, then the action is right 1-11  Illustration of 1st Formulation Question: Can a person in dire straits make a promise with the intention of breaking it later? Proposed rule: “I may make promises with the intention of later breaking them.” The person in trouble wants his promise to be believed so he can get what he needs. Universalize rule: Everyone may make & break promises Everyone breaking promises would make promises unbelievable, contradicting desire to have promise believed The rule is flawed. The answer is “No.” 1-12  Categorical Imperative (2nd Formulation) “Act so that you treat both yourself and other people as ends in themselves and never only as a means to an end.” This is usually an easier formulation to work with than the first formulation of the Categorical Imperative. 1-13 2nd Formulation of Categorical Imperative The Categorical Imperative says it is wrong for one person to “use” another for his means. Instead, every interaction with other people must respect them as rational beings. 1-14 Treating people as “ends in themselves” Kant thought that human reason was extremely valuable. To respect other people’s reason, and their ability to discover and follow the moral law, we must never use them for our own purposes. Kant expressed this by saying that we should never treat humanity “merely as a means” (to getting what we want), but “always as an end in itself”.  Semi-conductor Fabrication Plant Scenario Manufactures integrated 8-inch wafers. The plant is going to shut in one year Moving the production to other sites to manufacture 12- inch wafer. Need new employees this year. The applicants are from other states. Applicants will not move in case they will come to know about the closing of the plant. Result in hiring less qualified local workers. Question: Should the information be disclosed to the applicants? 1-16  Semi-conductor Fabrication Plant Scenario contd. Using Kantian Evaluation (2nd Formulation) It is an obligation to inform the applicants, since the information will influence their decisions. If the information is denied, the applicants are treated as a means to an end and not as ends in themselves. 1-17  Plagiarism Scenario Carla Single mother Works full time Takes two evening courses/semester History class Requires more work than normal Carla earning an “A” on all work so far Carla doesn’t have time to write final report Carla purchases report and submits it as her own work 1-18  Plagiarism Scenario contd. Using Kantian Evaluation (1st Formulation) Carla wants credit for plagiarized report Rule: “You may claim credit for work performed by someone else” If rule is universalized, reports would no longer be credible indicator’s of student’s knowledge, and professors would not give credit for reports Proposed moral rule is self-defeating. It is wrong for Carla to turn in a purchased report 1-19  Plagiarism Scenario contd. Carla submitted another person’s work as her own She attempted to deceive professor She treated professor as a means to an end ◦ End: passing the course ◦ Means: professor issues grade What Carla did was wrong. 1-20  Case for Kantianism This theory is rational because the act is based on logic. Produces universal moral guidelines applied to all people for all of history. Treats all persons as moral equals i.e. people in similar situations should be treated in similar ways. Workable ethical theory. 1-21  Kantianism Act so that you treat both yourself and other people as ends in themselves and never only as a means to an end.” Workable Theory because the act is based on logic and produces universal guidelines.  Case Against Kantianism Sometimes no single rule adequately characterizes an action. Sometimes there is no way to resolve a conflict between rules In a conflict between a perfect duty and an imperfect duty, perfect duty prevails In a conflict between two perfect duties, no solution Kantianism allows no exceptions to perfect duties. Despite weaknesses, a workable ethical theory 1-23