Immanuel Kant in Short

Ø  Deontological Ethics

·         Rightness or wrongness of actions in themselves

·         In an opposition to utilitarian ethics

·         Actions based on duty

·         Rightness or wrongness of situations depend on the action that caused it

·         Theory of categorical imperative introduced deontological ethics

·         Right takes priority over good

·         Sometimes but not necessarily in accordance with moral Absolutism.

·         Also described as duty based or obligation based

·         Ethical rules bind people to their duties

Ø  Imperative: any proposition that declares a certain action or (in action) to be necessary.

1.      Hypothetical: demands performance of an action for the sake of some other end or purpose. For example, “do A in order to achieve X”.

2.      Categorical: demands performance of an action for its own sake. It would directly bind any will uncluttered by subjective inclinations. It is known as a-priori but it cannot be an analytic judgment. It denotes an absolute unconditional requirement that exerts its authority in all circumstances, both required and justified as an end in itself.

v  Categorical imperative I: “Act only in such way that you would want your actions to become a universal law, applicable to everyone in a similar situation”.

                                                                                I.            True moral proposition could not be tied to any particular condition, including the identity of the person making the decision.

                                                                              II.            It is similar to Golden Rule; do not impose on others what you do not want wish for yourself”.

v  Categorical Imperative II: “Act in such a way that you always treat humanity as both means of an action, but also as an end.”

                                                                                I.            Every principle must be considered both means and end.

                                                                              II.            Most ends are subjective in nature, they need only be persued if are in line with hypothetical imperative.

                                                                            III.            For ends to be objective it needs to be perused categorically.

                                                                            IV.            Free will is the source of rational action.

                                                                              V.            A person must maintain her moral duty to seek an end that is equal for all people.

v  Categorical Imperative III: “Act as though you were a law making member of a hypothetical, ‘kingdom of ends’, and therefore only in such a way that would harmonize with such a kingdom if those laws binding on all others.”

                                                                                I.            A truly autonomous will is not subjugated to any interest; it is subject to those laws it makes for itself, but the will must also regard those laws as if those are bound by the laws.

Ø  The objective necessity to act from obligation is called duty.

Ø  A good will is manifested in acting for the sake of duty.

Ø  For Kant ‘duty” has a strong link with good will. In his explanations “duty” refers to the act of freely making oneself to desire something and to do it because he appreciates moral reasons there are for doing it.