Single Idea 8028

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 2. Duty]

Full Idea

Anyone educated into the Kantian notion of duty will (so far) have been educated into easy conformism with authority.

Gist of Idea

Kantian duty seems to imply conformism with authority

Source

comment on Immanuel Kant (Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals [1785]) by Alasdair MacIntyre - A Short History of Ethics Ch.14

Book Reference

MacIntyre,Alasdair: 'A Short History of Ethics' [Routledge 1967], p.198


A Reaction

The Nazi Eichmann cited Kant at his trial for mass murder. I'm not sure the criticism is fair. There are surely times when the categorical imperative will go quite contrary to what the irrational authorities are implementing?