Kant’s Opinion
1. moral worth of an action to be judged by the nature of the maxim (ground rule) or principle that motivated the action
2.Only correct Maxims are those that can serve as universal laws because they are applicable without exception to every person at any time.
Good Will and Duty
1. Only thing that can be called good without qualification is good will
a) Good will isn’t good because of it’s effects or it’s accomplishments not even its adequacy to achieve a proposed end but because it is good in itself by of its willing
2. The duty to help others has no moral worth if done for the purpose of taking delight in the contentment of others in order to achieve inner pleasure
a) this is because the maxim does have the moral merit of those …show more content…
Hypothetical Imperative declares a possible action to be practically necessary as a means to the attainment of something else that one wants an if you want a then just do b (you will not know what a hypothetical imperative contains until given its condition)
2. Categorical Imperative represents an action as itself objectively necessary, without regard to any further end.
a) Do x (requires direct conduct)
b) The ONLY categorical imperative is "Act only on that maxim by which you can at the same time, that it should become a universal law"
Duties of the only Categ. Imperative
1. By having a horrible life a guy wonders if its duty to take his life. His maxim is "I make it my principle out of self-love to shorten my life if it shortens my life if its continuance threatens more evil than it promises advantage."
a) This cannot be universalized because the law of nature is to promote life and by saying this would be contradictory
2. borrowing money and promising to pay it back but without intentions of paying it back. The maxim of the action is saying when one needs money he will borrow it. But will not pay it back.
a) This cannot be universalized because the concept of promising itself is impossible because no one would believe anyone that promises anything anymore
Study Question
1. moral worth of an action to be judged by the nature of the maxim (ground rule) or principle that motivated the action
2.Only correct Maxims are those that can serve as universal laws because they are applicable without exception to every person at any time.
Good Will and Duty
1. Only thing that can be called good without qualification is good will
a) Good will isn’t good because of it’s effects or it’s accomplishments not even its adequacy to achieve a proposed end but because it is good in itself by of its willing
2. The duty to help others has no moral worth if done for the purpose of taking delight in the contentment of others in order to achieve inner pleasure
a) this is because the maxim does have the moral merit of those …show more content…
Hypothetical Imperative declares a possible action to be practically necessary as a means to the attainment of something else that one wants an if you want a then just do b (you will not know what a hypothetical imperative contains until given its condition)
2. Categorical Imperative represents an action as itself objectively necessary, without regard to any further end.
a) Do x (requires direct conduct)
b) The ONLY categorical imperative is "Act only on that maxim by which you can at the same time, that it should become a universal law"
Duties of the only Categ. Imperative
1. By having a horrible life a guy wonders if its duty to take his life. His maxim is "I make it my principle out of self-love to shorten my life if it shortens my life if its continuance threatens more evil than it promises advantage."
a) This cannot be universalized because the law of nature is to promote life and by saying this would be contradictory
2. borrowing money and promising to pay it back but without intentions of paying it back. The maxim of the action is saying when one needs money he will borrow it. But will not pay it back.
a) This cannot be universalized because the concept of promising itself is impossible because no one would believe anyone that promises anything anymore
Study Question