Kant

Question 1

what are the 3 formulations of Kants argument

Answer 1

1. the universalisability of the principle underlying the action
2. never treat people as means to an end but always as ends in themselves
3. act as if you were making laws for a kingdom that treated people as ends in themselves

Question 2

1. the universalisability of the principle underlying the action

Answer 2

keeps a priori
moral decision making - work out maxim by which you will be acting
then ask if it possible to universalise it. if everyone everywhere did this what would happen to your new law
2 types of contradictions
self contradictions
contradictions of will

Question 3

2. never treat people as means to an end but always as ends in themselves - 5

Answer 3

1. gives infinite value to human beings as autonomous
2. his way of expressing infinite value of free moral agents is to describe them as ends in themselves
3. humans have infinite intrinsic value - humans must never be used as though their instrumental value is more significant
4. actions are good or bad goodness doesn’t depend on consequences but how you treat humans
5. if action dehumanises makes someone means to end

Question 4

3. act as if you were making laws for a kingdom that treated people as ends in themselves

Answer 4

1. create a maxim in mind which you summaries intended action
2. argues an experience of moral duty only makes sense if we can freely act upon it

Question 5

strengths - 2

Answer 5

1. leads justice and fair treatment
2. actions can be right/ wrong in themselves. avoids where evil actions can be justified by good ends

Question 6

weaknesses - 3

Answer 6

1. if applied to legalistically ethics might appear inflexible and lack compassion
2. people rarely act out of pure practical reason
3. only produces general rules - some dilemmas more complex

Question 7

how is his view compatible with christian decision making
1. thought reality was beyond the world of space and time

Answer 7

1. aquinas God is beyond space and time

Question 8

how is his view compatible with christian decision making
2. first formulation of categorical imperative is universalisability

Answer 8

2. Jesus’ Golden rule is do unto others as you would have them do to you

Question 9

how is his view not compatible with christian decision making
1. cold theory about duty not love

Answer 9

1. Jesus’ teaching is focused on love of God and others

Question 10

how is his view not compatible with christian decision making
2. rue based theory in which rules have no exception

Answer 10

Jesus occasion set aside rules to allow peoples needs and situation ethics to take this approach further