DEONTOLOG
Y
At the end of this module, you should
be able to:
1. Discuss the basic principles of
deontology.
2. Apply pure sense of duty to
one’s obligations and actions.
3. Evaluate actions using the
universalizability test.
1724 -1804
The term deontology
From the Greek word
deon, meaning “duty”
or “obligation.”
Deontological ethics defines the
moral rightness or wrongness of
an act in terms of the intrinsic
value of the act. According to
this theory, our duty to perform
an action (or refrain from doing
it) is based on the nature of the
act itself and not on its
consequences.
act conseque
good in itself nce
Main Tenets
The morality of an act is focused
on the act itself regardless of the
consequences.
There are actions which are good
in themselves no matter what may
follow.
Actions that by nature are good
are to be the object of one’s duty.
The Good Will
A good will is not good because of what it
effects or accomplishes, because of its fitness
to attain some proposed end, but only
because of its volition, that is, it is good in
itself and, regarded for itself, is to be valued
incomparably higher than all that could merely
be brought about by it in favor of some
inclination and indeed, if you will, of the sum
of all inclinations.
Kant, Immanuel. Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals,
trans. Mary Gregor, 1997. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge
University Press, 3.
DUT
Y
DUTY
preferenc
es
emotion
likes s
dislike DUTY
s in itself
bias/
prejudi
inclinati
ce
ons
What does Kant Mean?
Kant uses the term ‘will’ to refer to
intention or motive.
For Kant, the only thing that is
good in itself is what he calls a good
will.
A person has a good will if he/she
does something right or good in
itself.
Duty
commitmen faithfulness
t fidelity
dedication self-giving
devotion determination
allegiance consistency
loyalty
unconditionalit
Pure Sense of Duty
One must perform a moral
duty for its own sake.
Doing good should be
constant. We can constantly
do something if it is done
under a pure sense of duty.
When is an act morally worthy?
An action gains moral
worth when it is done
under a pure sense of
duty.
The command to do one’s duty
The command to do one’s
duty is otherwise known as
the “categorical imperative.”
It is categorical because it
doesn’t admit the conditions
or qualifications.
Autonomy - autos (self) and nomos
(law) = self-law or self-legislating.
Heterenomy – heteros (other) and
nomos (law) = other law.
A maxim is the rule or principle
on which you act. For example,
I might make it my maxim to
give at least as much to charity
each year as I spend on eating
out, or I might make it my
maxim only to do what will
benefit some member of my
family.
https://www.csus.edu/indiv/g/gaskilld/ethics/kantian%20ethics.htm
Where does the command come from?
It comes from oneself. As an attribute of
our rational nature, we can see that
there are things in life that we have to
do and not do out of on our initiative
under the light of our own reason. We
do not anymore depend on others’
commands unlike during the times when
we were still young. This is what Kant
calls autonomy of the will.
What is autonomy of the will?
Autonomy of the will is the
property of the will by which it
is a law to itself (independently
of any property of the objects
of volition).
Kant, Immanuel. Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals,
trans. Mary Gregor, 1997. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge
University Press, 47.
How do We Evaluate Our
Motivations for Action?
How do we know that what we are
doing is in the right way? Given our
weaknesses and limitations, is there a
way for us to create a law that can be
morally justified? Here, Kant offers us
his formula or moral criterion known
as the categorical imperative.
What is an imperative?
An imperative is a
command. So, "Pay your
taxes!" is an imperative, as
are "Stop kicking me!" and
"Don't kill animals!"
Hypothetical imperatives?
These imperatives command
conditionally on your having a relevant
desire. E.g. “If you want to go to medical
school, study biology in college.” If you
don’t want to go to medical school, this
command doesn’t apply to you. Another
example, your father says, "if you are
hungry, then go eat something!" - if you
aren't hungry, then you are free to ignore
the command.
Categorical imperatives?
These command
unconditionally. E.g. “Don’t
cheat on your taxes.” Even if
you want to cheat and doing so
would serve your interests, you
may not cheat.
What is the connection between
morality and categorical
imperatives?
Morality must be based on the
categorical imperative
because morality is such that
you are commanded by it, and
is such that you cannot opt out
of it or claim that it does not
apply to you.
The Formula of Universal Law
The Categorical Imperative
Conformity to a universal law
The Humanity Formula
The Categorical Imperative
Persons as ends in
themselves
The Autonomy Formula
The Categorical Imperative
Persons as moral legislators
“Act always on the maxim
of such a will in us as can at
the same time look upon
itself as making universal
law.”
Immanuel Kant
Two ways when
your maxim won’t
be able to pass the
universality
qualification.
1. Contradiction in
conception test
Whenever anyone is in need, they
will make a false promise in order
to get some cash.
Problem: It is impossible to imagine
circumstances in which this is a universal
law. If the false promises maxim were
accepted by everyone, the whole practice
of making promises would collapse.
2. Contradiction in
will test
Whenever anyone sees another person
in urgent need of help, they will not help
the needy in order to avoid sacrificing
their own happiness.
Problem: In the world in which no one
helps others, you would still have some
goals. Because you want things that will
require other people’s help to secure, you
can’t consistently will the selfish maxim to
be a universal law.
Advantages
Kant's morality is very
straightforward and
based on reason, making it
accessible to everyone.
Duty is part of human experience.
Morality doesn't depend on motives,
consequences or religious laws.
Categorical imperative gives us rules
that apply to everyone and
command us to respect human
life.
It makes clear that morality is doing
one's duty and not just following
feelings. We cannot assume what
is good for us is good for
everyone else - Kant’s
equivalent of the Golden Rule.
It aims to treat everyone fairly
and justly so corrects
utilitarian idea that some can
suffer as long as others are
happy.
Kant sees humans as being of
intrinsic worth as they are the
rational high point of creation.
This means they cannot be
enslaved or exploited (Basis of
the Declaration of Human
Rights).
Equal treatment of individuals
gets rid of bias which
sometimes influences decision-
making.
Categorical imperative tells us
exactly what is right and wrong,
giving us a clear sense of moral
guidelines.
Kant draws a clear distinction
between duty and preference.
Moral value of an action comes
from it's intrinsic rightness so
issues of teleological ethics are
avoided.
People generally do have the
same ideas about morality.
Ethical practice should be
based on reason not
subjective emotion.
Most people recognize the
idea of duty, it is part of
what it means to be
human.
There is a difference between
duty and inclination.
Disadvantag
es
Kant's theory is abstract and not
always easily appliable - it
tells you what type of actions
are good but not the right thing
to do in particular situations.
People rarely act purely out
of duty as they always
have some expectation of
what they'll get in return.
Some philosophers think
putting duty above feeling
is cold and inhuman-
there is no place for love
and personal relations in
Kant's theory.
Kant tells us in general terms to
respect others and not treat
them as a means to an end, but
doesn’t tell us what to do in
individual cases.
Philippa Foot, among others, have
criticized Kant's theory doesn’t
help the situation of the double
effect.
There are no exceptions in using
people as means to ends which
severely restricts our behavior.
People are different and don’t
necessarily have the same sense
of 'good will’.
Not everyone is capable of
making rational moral decisions.
Every action we take involves love
and compassion because we are
human beings.
It is human nature to consider the
consequences.
Created by: Stevie117 on: 16-11-15 18:31. Retrieved December 21,
2020 from https://getrevising.co.uk/grids/kantian-ethics
Concluding
Remarks
Deontology or Kantian ethics is
based on the view that human
beings are rational. It is this
rationality that enables a person to
independently create a moral law to
oneself going beyond the grips of
emotions and desires which
establishes one’s autonomy and
freedom.
