KaE

Question 1

Kantian ethics main claim

Answer 1

To act morally is to act out of duties which are discoverable by reason.

Question 2

Problems with the first formulation (a)

Answer 2

not all universalisable maxims are moral.

There are many maxims that can be universalised without a contradiction in conception or will, but they are either morally neutral or just plain immoral.

Question 3

Response to “trivial” universalisable maxims

Answer 3

They are not problematic because passing the test just means that this maxim is permissible, it doesn’t mean it is an obligatory duty. We can do it, but there is no suggestion that we must.

Question 4

Response 1 to immoral universalisable maxims

Answer 4

These universalisable immoral maxims are not the same as your sincere maxim

Some respond by arguing that in the case of the immoral maxims, the person’s real maxim is not universalisable and so is morally wrong

Question 5

Response 2 to immoral universalisable maxims

Answer 5

Use the Second Formulation

Question 6

Counter response to responses to problems with the first formulation (a)

Answer 6

Sometimes people genuinely do have very specific maxims universalisable immoral maxims.

For example: ‘I will steal when I am in desperate circumstances and can’t feed my family’ could be someone’s sincere maxim. This maxim is universalisable but immoral for Kant

Question 7

Problems with the first formulation (b)

Answer 7

not all non-universalisable maxims are immoral

e.g I will let others go through doors before me.

Question 8

Response to problems with the first formulation (b)

Answer 8

They are either (a) rephrasable into maxims that are moral or (b) they are immoral

e.g “I will let others go through doors before me” becomes “I will help others”

e.g “I will let others go through doors before me”: it would be wrong to stubbornly follow this because there are times where respecting others would mean going through the door first.

Question 9

Counter response to Response to problems with the first formulation (b)

Answer 9

While (1) works (it is true that the more general maxim is universalisable), (2) does not since ‘specific’ doesn’t mean ‘immoral’.