All Questions
35 questions
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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
6
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3
answers
3k
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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 ...
0
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1
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86
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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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2
votes
2
answers
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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0
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0
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48
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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
3
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1
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159
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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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1
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0
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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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2
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2
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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 ...
- 29
4
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3
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1k
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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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3
votes
1
answer
138
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For Kant, is it immoral to offer solutions that may backfire when generalized?
I once read long ago Immanuel Kant came up with a model of Maxim. What I interpreted of it is basically that "if everyone does this and it still works in the long run, then it is right."
This makes ...
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1
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1
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Is the following application of Kant's Categorical Imperative valid?
I'm reading about Kantian ethics and my question is if the maxim/prescription "Increase my Darwinian Fitness" is valid according to Kant's Categorical Imperative.
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2
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How Kant's second formulation of the categorical imperative interacts with consent
Kant's second formulation (or the "ends in themselves" formulation) says:
use humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end, never merely as ...
- 139
1
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1
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401
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How is Kantian's Universality Formulation identical to his Humanity Formulation (Principle of Ends)?
Kant states that the humanity formulation was substantively identical with his first formulation of the categorical imperative (universal law of nature), but I do not see how he came to that ...
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3
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2
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210
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Categorical imperative defeating division of labor?
Suppose the following maxim.
Goal: satisfy basic needs: food, water, sleep, etc.
Method: having a specialization, getting money for work, spend money to satisfy basic needs.
Conditions: capitalism, ...
- 2,764
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3
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Applying the Mere Means principle
I am trying to understand Kant's Second Categorical Imperative:
Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never merely as a means to an ...
- 969
2
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1
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827
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Kant and the Categorical Imperatives
Did Immanuel Kant intend for the Categorical Imperatives to be used together, or separately, when trying to determine an actions ethicality or morality
If you answer yes, individually, then how does ...
user31089
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What are some examples of categorical imperatives/universalizable maxims relevant to modern ethics?
I know this question has been widely asked, and that the answer may not be as straightforward as the question, which is partly why I'm asking. It's been a long time since I sat in a philosophy class, ...
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2
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334
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Contemporary literature on Kantian ethics?
After reading some works, mainly by Kosgaard, I was wondering if there were any other in-depth contemporary literature looking into Kantian ethics and, more precisely, into its problems (and their ...
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4
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Is there an answer to false positives/negatives of Kant's categorical imperative?
I recently read some papers on Kant's categorical imperative (McCarty, Kosgaard, Gressis mainly) on how to properly formulate a maxim according to him, and on the multiple problems linked to those ...
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3
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5
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440
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If a moral law contains "If-then/Unless-then" clauses, is it still Kantian?
An argument against Kant's categorical imperative is the "hiding Jews from the Nazis" example:
"Per the categorical imperative, you should never lie. Therefore if you are hiding Jews in the basement ...
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2
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1
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248
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How specific to a set of circumstances can the categorical imperative be?
I'm having trouble understanding just how specific the circumstances can be when using the categorical imperative. My general understanding is that the categorical imperative urges you to consider ...
- 23
2
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1
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878
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Kant's second formulation
In Kant's Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, he gives examples of uses of the Humanity Imperative, the first being about suicide.
I have a scenario in which there is a boy who has to choose ...
- 21
3
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2
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3k
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Are there counter examples to Kant's perfect duties?
Are there exceptions to Kant's perfect duties - duties always or never to do X? By this I mean, does the doctrine of perfect duties generate counter-examples - situations in which if we followed the ...
user6917
4
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3
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708
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"Repugnant conclusions" following from Kant's imperative to never use humans only as means to an end?
Many formulations of utilitarian consequentialism famously lead to a range of "repugnant conclusions", such as:
it would be moral to execute an innocent person if this act could deter at least two ...
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1
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200
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Can trivial and ridiculous perfect duties be constructed?
First, formulate a maxim that enshrines your reason for acting as you
propose. Second, recast that maxim as a universal law of nature
governing all rational agents, and so as holding that all must,...
user6917
0
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2
answers
3k
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How is Kant's 'Kingdom of Ends' anything more than just a combination of the first 2 maxims?
In Kant's categorical imperative, he outlines 3 maxims:
Universal moral law: ‘Only act on a maxim that you could will should become a universal law.’
Treat people as ends: ‘Act so as to treat others ...
1
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2
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2k
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Is Kant's first axiom precise?
The Categorical Imperative is generally stated with two axioms:
Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law
Any person who is a ...
4
votes
1
answer
333
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What does it mean for Kant for someone to lie?
Would Kant identify the act of lying with the intention to delude or with the act of speaking untruth, when their conjunction is not given? It is possible to try to deceive someone but nonetheless ...
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5
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Has Kant's application of the Categorical Imperative failed?
To what extent does Kant successfully apply his four illustrations to his categorical imperative test? (Do not make false promises etc)
The question can be split into two questions:
What makes Kant'...
- 31
3
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1
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143
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Was Kant successful in establishing the autonomy of the will?
Was Kant successful in establishing the autonomy of the will, and hence the authority of moral demands over us?
Kant appeared not to recognize the gap existing between the law of an autonomous ...
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2
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1
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586
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Kant on Euthanasia
I know there are many permutations of questions pertaining to euthanasia, but in the interest of specificity, let's keep it to these two cases.
How might Kant respond to:
A) The claim that ...
- 481
4
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1
answer
3k
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Kant on Positive Obligations (to children)
With respect to the Formula of Humanity, if we accept that:
A) We are each capable of acting 'on the basis of reason' (in accordance with the requirement of universal law); and
B) Rationality is ...
- 481
5
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1
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How does Kant link the three subordinate formulations of the categorical imperative to the universal law?
How does Kant derive The Formula of an End in Itself, The Formula of Autonomy, and The Formula of the Kingdom of Ends from the The Formula of the Universal Law?
So far, this is my understanding of it....
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646
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Kant's categorical imperative: What precisely is the nature of the maxim that is universalised?
Using Kant’s categorical imperative, I understand that in order to ‘test’ the morality of an intended action, one has to take the maxim of their action and universalise it. If it is self contradictory ...
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6
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2
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Kant and categorical imperative dilemma? [duplicate]
I was wondering, what would Kant and the categorical imperative say about the following situation?
Person A has made a promise to person B that Person A would not tell of a crime of stealing in a ...
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