Kantianism Deontological ethics

immanuel kant

immanuel kant s theory of ethics considered deontological several different reasons. first, kant argues act in morally right way, people must act duty (deon). second, kant argued not consequences of actions make them right or wrong motives of person carries out action.

kant s argument act in morally right way 1 must act purely duty begins argument highest must both in , without qualification. in when intrinsically good, , without qualification , when addition of thing never makes situation ethically worse. kant argues things thought good, such intelligence, perseverance , pleasure, fail either intrinsically or without qualification. pleasure, example, appears not without qualification, because when people take pleasure in watching suffer, seems make situation ethically worse. concludes there 1 thing good:

nothing in world—indeed nothing beyond world—can possibly conceived called without qualification except will.

kant argues consequences of act of willing cannot used determine person has will; consequences arise accident action motivated desire cause harm innocent person, , bad consequences arise action well-motivated. instead, claims, person has when acts out of respect moral law . people act out of respect moral law when act in way because have duty so. so, thing in will, , when willer chooses because person s duty, i.e. out of respect law. defines respect concept of worth thwarts self-love .

kant s 3 significant formulations of categorical imperative are:

act according maxim can become universal law.
act in such way treat humanity, whether in own person or in person of other, never means, @ same time end.
every rational being must act if through maxim legislating member in universal kingdom of ends.




^ orend, brian. 2000. war , international justice: kantian perspective. west waterloo, ontario: wilfrid laurier university press: 19.
^ kelly, eugene. 2006. basics of western philosophy. greenwood press: 160.
^ kant, immanuel. 1780. preface. in metaphysical elements of ethics. translated thomas kingsmill abbott
^ kant, immanuel. 1785. first section: transition common rational knowledge of morals philosophical , groundwork of metaphysic of morals.
^ kant, immanuel (1785). thomas kingsmill abbott, ed. fundamental principles of metaphysic of morals (10 ed.). project gutenberg. p. 23.