more on this theme
|
more from this thinker
Single Idea 6695
[filed under theme 23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 2. Duty
]
Full Idea
An implausible and uncomfortable conclusion to be drawn from Kant's conception of morality is that we must attribute high moral worth to deeply unattractive human lives.
Gist of Idea
Kant has to attribute high moral worth to some deeply unattractive human lives
Source
report of Immanuel Kant (Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals [1785]) by Gordon Graham - Eight Theories of Ethics Ch.6
Book Ref
Graham,Gordon: 'Eight Theories of Ethics' [Routledge 2004], p.123
A Reaction
Graham quotes a loathsome character from a Victorian novel, who coldly 'does her duty'. Indeed it might be that a robot could be programmed with the categorical imperative (though it would need a table of values first). Virtue theory is the answer.
The
70 ideas
from 'Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals'
3544
|
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
|
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]
|
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
|
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
|
Virtue lets a rational being make universal law, and share in the kingdom of ends
[Kant]
|
3737
|
The will is good if its universalised maxim is never in conflict with itself
[Kant]
|
3738
|
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
|
We cannot conceive of reason as being externally controlled
[Kant]
|
3741
|
We shall never be able to comprehend how freedom is possible
[Kant]
|
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]
|
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]
|