Kant's Theory Of Deontology

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Deontology is the study of the nature of duty and obligation. In deontology the focus of it is not the consequences of our actions, rather if our actions are ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ regardless of the outcome. One of the best known contributors to the concept of deontology is Immanuel Kant. “Seeking out and establishing the supreme principle of morality,” this is Kant’s theory of deontology. According to Kant in order for an action to have moral worth, there must be an act of right motivation, along with doing the right thing; if the act has moral worth it must be done in a sense of obligation to do the right thing. There can be good actions done with wrong motives, making them not have moral worth.

“I ought never to act except in such a way that
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This leads into the ‘The First Form’; “Act only on that maxim that you can will as a universal law.” Categorical imperatives apply to everyone universally, moral actions are done in accordance with maxims that are held to be universal laws. For an action to have moral worth it is essential for humans to ask themselves if the action being committed would be okay if it was universal and applied to everyone. This processes if called universalizing a maxim. A maxim is only moral it is a universal law or should be one. If the action being committed would not be a universal law, then the action is immoral and should not be committed. The Second Form; “Always treat humanity, whether in your own person or that of another, never simply as a means but always at the same time as an ends.” Human Beings all have their own set of wishes, goals and desires. It is important for people to acknowledge that others are all trying to reach their own goals and desires. There are people that only use others for their own selfish reasons, in order to reach their own goals, training them as an “ends” and not taking inconsideration that they have their own goals too. This type of behavior towards others means a person is using others as a means to their own ends. In the other hand, if people acknowledge other’s own goals, as well as others, that person is treating others with respect and

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