Combining Philosophers

Ideas for George Boolos, B Russell/AN Whitehead and Immanuel Kant

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72 ideas

23. Ethics / B. Contract Ethics / 2. Golden Rule
3733 The 'golden rule' cannot be a universal law as it implies no duties [Kant]
23. Ethics / B. Contract Ethics / 3. Promise Keeping
22442 If lies were ever acceptable, with would undermine all duties based on contract [Kant]
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 1. Virtue Theory / a. Nature of virtue
3736 Virtue lets a rational being make universal law, and share in the kingdom of ends [Kant]
6194 The highest worth for human beings lies in dispositions, not just actions [Kant]
6198 Virtue is the supreme state of our pursuit of happiness, and so is supreme good [Kant]
21411 A duty of virtue is a duty which is also an end [Kant]
21413 Virtue is strong maxims for duty [Kant]
21414 The supreme principle of virtue is to find universal laws for ends [Kant]
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 1. Virtue Theory / d. Virtue theory critique
3544 Kant thinks virtue becomes passive, and hence morally unaccountable [Kant, by Annas]
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / c. Motivation for virtue
1456 Moral law is holy, and the best we can do is achieve virtue through respect for the law [Kant]
21436 We are obliged to show the social virtues, but at least they make a virtuous disposition fashionable [Kant]
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / d. Teaching virtue
21419 If virtue becomes a habit, that is a loss of the freedom needed for adopting maxims [Kant]
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / f. The Mean
21417 How do we distinguish a mean? The extremes can involve quite different maxims [Kant]
21420 If virtue is the mean between vices, then virtue is just the vanishing of vice [Kant]
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / j. Unity of virtue
21418 There is one principle of virtues; the virtues are distinguished by their objects [Kant]
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / f. Compassion
7674 Generosity and pity are vices, because they falsely imply one person's superiority to another [Kant, by Berlin]
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / h. Respect
21029 Kantian respect is for humanity and reason (not from love or sympathy or solidarity) [Kant, by Sandel]
21425 We can love without respect, and show respect without love [Kant]
21427 Respect is limiting our self-esteem by attending to the human dignity of other persons [Kant]
21430 Disrespect is using a person as a mere means to my own ends [Kant]
21428 Respect is purely negative (of not exalting oneself over others), and is thus a duty of Right [Kant]
21426 Love urges us to get closer to people, but respect to keep our distance [Kant]
21434 We must respect the humanity even in a vicious criminal [Kant]
23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 1. Deontology
7105 If 'maxims' are deeper underlying intentions, Kant can be read as a virtue theorist [Kant, by Statman]
7625 We can ask how rational goodness is, but also why is rationality good [Putnam on Kant]
3710 The only purely good thing is a good will [Kant]
3737 The will is good if its universalised maxim is never in conflict with itself [Kant]
3715 Other causes can produce nice results, so morality must consist in the law, found only in rational beings [Kant]
20715 It is basic that moral actions must be done from duty [Kant]
4024 Kant follows Rousseau in defining freedom and morality in terms of each other [Taylor,C on Kant]
23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 2. Duty
3724 A categorical imperative sees an action as necessary purely for its own sake [Kant]
3718 Telling the truth from duty is quite different from doing so to avoid inconvenience [Kant]
3723 There are no imperatives for a holy will, as the will is in harmony with moral law [Kant]
21060 It can't be a duty to strive after the impossible [Kant]
3735 Men are subject to laws which are both self-made and universal [Kant]
3714 Dutiful actions are judged not by purpose, but by the maxim followed [Kant]
5295 Kant was happy with 'good will', even if it had no result [Kant, by Marx/Engels]
6695 Kant has to attribute high moral worth to some deeply unattractive human lives [Kant, by Graham]
8028 Kantian duty seems to imply conformism with authority [MacIntyre on Kant]
22441 The law will protect you if you tell a truth which results in murder [Kant]
23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 3. Universalisability
8026 Almost any precept can be consistently universalized [MacIntyre on Kant]
6185 No one would lend money unless a universal law made it secure, even after death [Kant]
6187 Universality determines the will, and hence extends self-love into altruism [Kant]
23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 4. Categorical Imperative
15673 The intuition behind the categorical imperative is that one ought not to make an exception of oneself [Kant, by Finlayson]
8068 Universalising a maxim needs to first stipulate the right description for the action [Anscombe on Kant]
8025 The categorical imperative will not suggest maxims suitable for testing [MacIntyre on Kant]
8027 I can universalize a selfish maxim, if it is expressed in a way that only applies to me [MacIntyre on Kant]
3728 Suicide, false promises, neglected talent, and lack of charity all involve contradictions of principle [Kant, by PG]
22008 Always treat yourself and others as an end, and never simply as a means [Kant]
22009 Morality is the creation of the laws that enable a Kingdom of Ends [Kant]
3719 If lying were the universal law it would make promises impossible [Kant]
3762 Why couldn't all rational beings accept outrageously immoral rules of conduct? [Mill on Kant]
4413 The categorical imperative smells of cruelty [Nietzsche on Kant]
3716 Act according to a maxim you can will as a universal law [Kant]
3727 Act as if your maxim were to become a universal law of nature [Kant]
23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 5. Persons as Ends
22050 The maxim of an action is chosen, and not externally imposed [Kant, by Bowie]
6694 Always treat humanity as an end and never as a means only [Kant]
3731 Rational beings necessarily conceive their own existence as an end in itself [Kant]
6201 Everyone (even God) must treat rational beings as ends in themselves, and not just as means [Kant]
23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 6. Motivation for Duty
5605 Moral blame is based on reason, since a reason is a cause which should have been followed [Kant]
5632 Moral laws are commands, which must involve promises and threats, which only God could provide [Kant]
4345 For Kant, even a person who lacks all sympathy for others still has a motive for benevolence [Kant, by Hursthouse]
4251 If we are required to give moral thought the highest priority, this gives morality no content [Williams,B on Kant]
16004 If Kant lives by self-administered laws, this is as feeble as self-administered punishments [Kierkegaard on Kant]
3711 Only a good will makes us worthy of happiness [Kant]
3713 The function of reason is to produce a good will [Kant]
3729 Our inclinations are not innately desirable; in fact most rational beings would like to be rid of them [Kant]
4344 Actions where people spread happiness because they enjoy it have no genuine moral worth [Kant]
6186 A holy will is incapable of any maxims which conflict with the moral law [Kant]
6195 Reason cannot solve the problem of why a law should motivate the will [Kant]
21062 The will's motive is the absolute law itself, and moral feeling is receptivity to law [Kant]
23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 5. Existence-Essence
6916 For Kant, essence is mental and a mere idea, and existence is the senses and mere appearance [Kant, by Feuerbach]