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Single Idea 4345

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 6. Motivation for Duty ]

Full Idea

Kant, we may suppose, would say that if a man were 'cold in temperament and indifferent to the sufferings of others', he would still find in himself a source that would enable him to do what is benevolent.

Gist of Idea

For Kant, even a person who lacks all sympathy for others still has a motive for benevolence

Source

report of Immanuel Kant (Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals [1785]) by Rosalind Hursthouse - On Virtue Ethics Ch.4

Book Ref

Hursthouse,Rosalind: 'On Virtue Ethics' [OUP 2001], p.101

A Reaction

This identifies a strong appeal of Kant's theory - that whether we are morally good should not be a matter of luck in our upbringing or natural temperament. How is the vicious person to be saved, if not by reason?

The 19 ideas with the same theme [reasons why someone should want to do their duty]:

3919 Conclusions of reason do not affect our emotions or decisions to act [Hume]
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]
22448 We sometimes just use the word 'should' to impose a rule of conduct on someone [Foot]
24012 Kant's love of consistency is too rigid, and it even overrides normal fairness [Williams,B]
2180 If reason cannot lead people to good, we must hope they have an internal voice [Williams,B]
2179 If the moral self is seen as characterless, then other people have a very limited role in our moral lives [Williams,B]
3255 We find new motives by discovering reasons for action different from our preexisting motives [Nagel]
3552 If excessively good actions are admirable but not required, then duty isn't basic [Annas]