more from this thinker     |     more from this text

Single Idea 4251

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

Full Idea

The Kantian view of what is important is that people should give moral considerations the highest deliberative priority, which Hegel attacked because it gives moral thought no content.

Gist of Idea

If we are required to give moral thought the highest priority, this gives morality no content

Source

comment on Immanuel Kant (Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals [1785]) by Bernard Williams - Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy Ch.10

Book Ref

Williams,Bernard: 'Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy' [Fontana 1985], p.184

A Reaction

Interesting. This points towards empathy and compassion as motivators, rather than reason, because there is some content to the morality, which calls out to us.

Related Idea

Idea 8029 You can't have a morality which is supplied by the individual, but is also genuinely universal [Hegel, by MacIntyre]

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]