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Single Idea 3712
[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / g. Consequentialism
]
Full Idea
A good will is not good because of what it effects or accomplishes.
Gist of Idea
A good will is not good because of what it achieves
Source
Immanuel Kant (Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals [1785], 394.3)
Book Ref
Kant,Immanuel: 'The Moral Law (Groundwork of Morals)', ed/tr. Paton,H.J. [Hutchinson 1948], p.60
A Reaction
This invites the obvious objection of the well-meaning fool, who causes misery despite meaning well. I firmly hold the view that what matters is what we do, not what we intend.
The
70 ideas
from 'Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals'
3544
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Kant thinks virtue becomes passive, and hence morally unaccountable
[Kant, by Annas]
|
5296
|
Kant made the political will into a pure self-determined "free" will
[Kant, by Marx/Engels]
|
24011
|
Kant thought emotions are too random and passive to be part of morality
[Kant, by Williams,B]
|
5074
|
Kant united religion and philosophy, by basing obedience to law on reason instead of faith
[Taylor,R on Kant]
|
8024
|
The categorical imperative says nothing about what our activities and ends should be
[MacIntyre on Kant]
|
22390
|
Kant thought human nature was pure hedonism, so virtue is only possible via the categorical imperative
[Foot on Kant]
|
9750
|
We must only value what others find acceptable
[Kant, by Korsgaard]
|
20160
|
Kant focuses exclusively on human values, and neglects cultural and personal values
[Kekes on Kant]
|
9749
|
Our rational choices confer value, arising from the sense that we ourselves are important
[Kant, by Korsgaard]
|
7671
|
Values are created by human choices, and are not some intrinsic quality, out there
[Kant, by Berlin]
|
8026
|
Almost any precept can be consistently universalized
[MacIntyre on Kant]
|
7674
|
Generosity and pity are vices, because they falsely imply one person's superiority to another
[Kant, by Berlin]
|
21029
|
Kantian respect is for humanity and reason (not from love or sympathy or solidarity)
[Kant, by Sandel]
|
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]
|
4024
|
Kant follows Rousseau in defining freedom and morality in terms of each other
[Taylor,C on 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]
|
4413
|
The categorical imperative smells of cruelty
[Nietzsche on Kant]
|
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]
|
3762
|
Why couldn't all rational beings accept outrageously immoral rules of conduct?
[Mill on Kant]
|
8027
|
I can universalize a selfish maxim, if it is expressed in a way that only applies to me
[MacIntyre on Kant]
|
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]
|
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]
|
7670
|
Kant is the father of the notion of exploitation as an evil
[Kant, by Berlin]
|
7591
|
Kant completed Grotius's project of a non-religious basis for natural law
[Scruton on Kant]
|
7673
|
Retributive punishment is better than being sent to hospital for your crimes
[Kant, by Berlin]
|
8046
|
We can only know we should obey God if we already have moral standards for judging God
[Kant, by MacIntyre]
|
20714
|
God is not proved by reason, but is a postulate of moral thinking
[Kant, by Davies,B]
|
3710
|
The only purely good thing is a good will
[Kant]
|
3711
|
Only a good will makes us worthy of happiness
[Kant]
|
3712
|
A good will is not good because of what it achieves
[Kant]
|
3713
|
The function of reason is to produce a good will
[Kant]
|
3714
|
Dutiful actions are judged not by purpose, but by the maxim followed
[Kant]
|
3715
|
Other causes can produce nice results, so morality must consist in the law, found only in rational beings
[Kant]
|
3717
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Reverence is awareness of a value which demolishes my self-love
[Kant]
|
3716
|
Act according to a maxim you can will as a universal law
[Kant]
|
3718
|
Telling the truth from duty is quite different from doing so to avoid inconvenience
[Kant]
|
3719
|
If lying were the universal law it would make promises impossible
[Kant]
|
3720
|
We may claim noble motives, but we cannot penetrate our secret impulses
[Kant]
|
3721
|
We judge God to be good by a priori standards of moral perfection
[Kant]
|
3722
|
Metaphysics goes beyond the empirical, so doesn't need examples
[Kant]
|
3724
|
A categorical imperative sees an action as necessary purely for its own sake
[Kant]
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3723
|
There are no imperatives for a holy will, as the will is in harmony with moral law
[Kant]
|
3725
|
The good of an action is in the mind of the doer, not the consequences
[Kant]
|
3726
|
The categorical imperative is a practical synthetic a priori proposition
[Kant]
|
3727
|
Act as if your maxim were to become a universal law of nature
[Kant]
|
3728
|
Suicide, false promises, neglected talent, and lack of charity all involve contradictions of principle
[Kant, by PG]
|
3729
|
Our inclinations are not innately desirable; in fact most rational beings would like to be rid of them
[Kant]
|
3730
|
Non-rational beings only have a relative value, as means rather than as ends
[Kant]
|
3731
|
Rational beings necessarily conceive their own existence as an end in itself
[Kant]
|
3732
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Rational beings have a right to share in the end of an action, not just be part of the means
[Kant]
|
3733
|
The 'golden rule' cannot be a universal law as it implies no duties
[Kant]
|
3735
|
Men are subject to laws which are both self-made and universal
[Kant]
|
3736
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Virtue lets a rational being make universal law, and share in the kingdom of ends
[Kant]
|
3737
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The will is good if its universalised maxim is never in conflict with itself
[Kant]
|
3738
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The hallmark of rationality is setting itself an end
[Kant]
|
3739
|
Free will is a kind of causality which works independently of other causes
[Kant]
|
3740
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We cannot conceive of reason as being externally controlled
[Kant]
|
3741
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We shall never be able to comprehend how freedom is possible
[Kant]
|
22008
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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]
|
20715
|
It is basic that moral actions must be done from duty
[Kant]
|
4344
|
Actions where people spread happiness because they enjoy it have no genuine moral worth
[Kant]
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