All Questions
176 questions
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Could you provide a clear distinction between imperfect and perfect duties according to deontologists?
How are the two duties different from each other, while seemingly the same, just as Kant says with regards to the two duties.
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What is wrong with trolling from a Kantian moral perspective? Can it be permissible in some circumstances?
It's somewhat clearer how trolling generally seems to involve disrespect of others' rational nature. But how does trolling harm one's own rational nature (if it does), from a Kantian perspective? Is ...
user62871
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1
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132
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Does morality exist independently of humans or is it a social construct? [duplicate]
Plato believed that objective moral truths existed separate from human experience, Kant argued that morality is grounded in universal principles (such as his categorical imperative. Nietzsche claims ...
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2
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223
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"Duty and Inclination" in Kant's ethics
Having considered a lot of ideas: Kant's concept of moral worth, Schiller on grace and dignity, the feeling of respect, the effect of reason on feeling, the psychology of moral sentiment, the role of ...
user82152
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123
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How does Kant define an agent capable of judgment?
Specifically, since we cannot know any object is not a reasoner (as the external world isn't reliable), we couldn't know if anything is a reasoner, so would have to treat everything as a reasoner, ...
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Kant's "it is reprehensible in the highest degree" remark
At one point in the first Critique, Kant says:
But as regards the principles of ethics, of legislation, and of religion, spheres in which ideas alone render experience possible, although they never ...
user40843
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59
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What amount of egoism is natural, even necessary, even moral? [closed]
In his second theorem in the Critique of Practical Reason, Kant states that a rational being's consciousness of the agreeableness of life accompanying his whole existence is happiness, and the ...
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Kant acknowledges physical needs as well as moral law, but has he adequately explained why one should win out over the other?
Theorem II, Book 1, of the Critique of Practical Reason acknowledges finite beings, as part of physical nature, and that they have desires and needs, specifically a need to be happy. But the Critique ...
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Does Kant think we have an imperfect duty to not take intoxicants?
I want to smoke a cigarette to feel better. I want to smoke opium to feel better.
I think we can ignore the consequences of everyone performing this action (in similar situations), mass addiction and ...
user67675
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3
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235
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For Kant, how can we have moral autonomy if there's just one correct moral law?
What else then can freedom of the will be but autonomy, that is, the property of the will to be a law to itself?
Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals
So that in a nutshell is autonomy and freedom ...
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How is it Kant's view that lying is always wrong consistent with his view that killing in self-defense is permissable?
In his essay, "On the Supposed Right to Lie Because of Philanthropic Concerns" Kant seems to be arguing that lying is always wrong, even if it could save someone's life from a murderer. He ...
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Is there a preferred reading order for Kant's ethics?
I have followed a course on theoretical as well as on practical philosophy, so I feel at least somewhat familiar with Kant's metaphysical project.
I am primarily interested in his ethics. I've read ...
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Is Kantian ethics silent on most complex moral questions?
The examples Kant gives for the application of the CI (categorical imperative) are relatively simple and unproblematic.
Of course, it's contentious to regard lying for the greater good as immoral, but ...
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5
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Obligations to think well: are they to myself or for others?
Kant calls “the first command of all duties to oneself” – namely,
self-knowledge. Kant is concerned here not with knowing one’s
personality type, personal history, or potential talents. His concern
is ...
user64190
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2
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443
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Misconception surrounding Kant's categorical imperative?
It is widely known that Kant's first formulation of the categorical imperative, in his Metaphysics of Ethics, is as shown:
Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that ...
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We-intentions and the kingdom-of-ends version of the categorical imperative
One of Allen Wood's most finely ground axes was his contention that, notwithstanding certain translations/interpretations of Kant's writings on categorical imperatives, the three primary formulations ...
user40843
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2
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343
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Is it possible to do the right thing in the "wrong way"?
Definitions. Let the initial "objects" of moral judgment be moral problems. I don't want to say practical problems insofar as instrumental reasoning can be seen as solving practical problems ...
user40843
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Are categorical imperatives employed in non-Kantian ethical theories?
Are categorical imperatives employed in non-Kantian ethical theories?
For example, consider utilitarianism's principle "act so that the overall happiness is maximised". Is this not a ...
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389
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Kant's categorical imperative and casual sex. Why does casual sex necessarily involve using someone as a mere means?
I am writing a paper on Kant's principle and test of universalizability. It seems that the test can allow for morally permissible casual sex (i.e., sex outside the Kantian marriage), e.g., consider ...
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A "combining logic" moment in Kant
In "Ethical Theories and Moral Guidance", Pekka Väyrynen goes over proposals and arguments concerning the knowability of moral claims. Kant's relevant proposal (in the second Critique) is:
...
user40843
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463
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What say Kantian ethics about capitalism?
As I did read, it does not look like Kantian ethics favors socialism (especially given it requires slavery by economic imperative), but I would like a more rigorous analysis.
Note that
Recall that ...
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Is it ethical to convince someone to get vaccinated?
I'm currently writing about the ethics of vaccinations, and I have two long-standing concerns about the matter. "Is refusing vaccination a morally justifiable position?" will be my question. ...
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The inquisition and Kantian morality
I read in Williams' book on truth that during the inquisition priests were eager to apply Kantian ethics under torture, and that this proved difficult because lies - and arguably secrets - were ...
user56815
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Complicity in Kantian ethics
Let's use the example of the trolly problem, as everyone seems to understand what is at stake there. If I have a radio to the train driver, am I "using people as means" if I:
tell him to ...
user56815
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3
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What does Judith Jarvis Thomson's looped trolley problem show about Kant?
What does Judith Jarvis Thomson's looped trolley problem show about Kant?
the bystander does not need or use the one workman to save the five, because the latter’s presence on the track contributes ...
user56770
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Does Kant merely assume that all other good things can be good *with* limitation in the absence of a good will?
To elaborate on my question:
To argue that a good will is the only thing that is good without limitation, Kant must argue that all other good things are not good without limitation. To do this, doesn'...
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Is it always wrong to use other people for one's own purpose?
Kant says it is always wrong, do you agree or disagree? Is it always wrong to use other people for one's own purpose?
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Is the Categorical Imperative Simply Bad Math? :)
The title is clickbait, but the question is not.
First, The Categorical Imperative:
Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law.
...
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1
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How does Kant treat the sublime in the Anthropology compared with the Third Critique?
Is Kant treating the sublime consistently in the third critique and Anthropology? In other words, what are the differences being addressed in these empirical and transcendental inquires regarding the ...
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429
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Does there exist a maxim which is rooted in morally permissible principles that cannot be universalized?
I'm wondering if there's a maxim that is morally permissible that cannot be universalized, or at least done so consistently under Kantian ethics and his formula of universal law. In Examples of ...
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Do any philosophers discuss the ethics of the possible negative repercussions from doing what is morally good?
Aside from utilitarianism, most ethical systems seem to advocate actions that might hurt somebody or at least inconvenience them.
For example, standing up to a bully might hurt them.
Making a stand ...
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131
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For Kant, are we obligated to treat people who have no ability to reason or to give decisions or consents as always an end and not merely as means?
For Kant, are we obligated to treat people who have no ability to reason or to give decisions or consents (concerning with mental insanity) as always an end and not merely as means? If we are, why is ...
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Is it possible for morality to exist?
I used to be fairly convinced that morality existed - because of the numerous different ethical systems available, I was sure that even if I did not know which system was right, that morality, in some,...
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How would Kant/Mill justify causing somebody discomfort when doing the righteous thing?
I was wondering how Kant, or even Mill might respond to the issue that when doing the righteous thing, say standing up for yourself against a bully, or somebody who wants to impede on your rights, you ...
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How does Kant argue that all people have moral dignity
How does Kant argue that all people have moral dignity, the ability to conform to a moral law in which all people are ends only.
I have not substantially read Kant, but it occurred to me, suddenly / ...
user49534
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What would Kant say about treating people who lack strength of will?
For example, a smoker who wants to quit but can't resist the temptation of a smoke is an autonomous person but lacks strength of will (or character, or habitual rational moral acting). What would he ...
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Did Kant and Satre have the same view on morality [duplicate]
So in Kantian morality, in each act, you act as if your choice should become a universal law. And in Existentialism and Humanism Satre says that in every choice you choose for all man.
Are they ...
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Why should we treat others as *always* rational when they are not?
In Kantian system, murdering is nonrational because it cannot become a universal law. Yet Kant insists that it's immoral to lie to murderers. This is the same with saying they are rational being, ...
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Do any mainstream philosophers talk about a duty to being to true to yourself?
I'm just wondering who has taken Kant's ideas and still explicates on duties to oneself including the duty of being true to who you are, to be authentic. I know existentialism also considers the ...
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Do Kant or Aristotle ever comment on the line between self-interest/preservation and helping others?
Im wondering whether either of them ever talked about limits to helping others and when we should choose ourselves.
Ive tried doing some research but unfortunately to not avail.
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Are "concept" and "moral theory" thing-in-itself?
They're both objects that can be talked about but are not specified. Can I use Kant's "thing-in-itself" to describe them?
I'm currently writing an essay about ethics, now I'm thinking ...
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Where does ethics place the line between self interest and altruism?
Assuming I were to decide between getting Benefit A myself or somebody else getting A. All things being equal (need, desire, etc), is it correct to say most ethical theories (other than egoism) would ...
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"Ought implies can" or "Can implies ought"?
As far as I understand, the well known Kant's principle "Ought implies can" means: if you are morally obliged to do X, then you ought to do X. And (as explained here: http://web.mnstate.edu/...
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According to Kant, which one is an autonomous being: me or my rationality?
If we consider a person's identity lies not in his rationality, but in, say, his body or his consciousness, then it seems not so obvious why we can regard a person as autonomous simply from the status ...
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What separates a "normal" person from a morally excellent person? [closed]
Is it simply doing all the duties that Deontology (Kant) requires of you while doing them out of a sense of duty, or having all the virtues suggested by Aristotle while enjoying doing them or even ...
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Is it ethical to pursue one's own interests even at the expense of someone else's interests?
Say you and someone else are competing for a spot on a professional sports team. You're equally good, and in the end it'll come down to minor preference by the scout or randomness as to who gets ...
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435
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Sartre on morality in "Existentialism is a Humanism"
After reading Existentialism is a Humanism, I am struggling to understand Sartre's stance on morality. If I understand correctly, he believes that no moral rule can be derived from reason, and that ...
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Kant and infidelity or monogamy
It seems to me that if everyone refused to say when a monogamous relationship was over, refused to tell someone of their affairs, and so on, then no monogamous relationships could exist. If ...
user46524
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What are the main differences and similarities between Rousseau and Kant's moral philosophy?
Main differences and similarities between Rousseau and Kant, especially in the subjects of justice, morality and also how Rousseau influenced Kant.
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An attempt at reconstructing the reasoning behind Kant's universalization principle
Please let me know whether you detect objectionable points in my attempt at reconstructing Kant's universalization principle.
Reference : Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals.
https://en....
user39744