Deontology: Ethics of the Categorical Imperative

1. Deontology: Ethics of the Categorical Imperative Dr. Schmid, Ph.D. Philosophy and Religion, UNCW

2. Key Concepts:MORALITY – FREEDOM – REASON

3. What makes it moral? • A grocer sells you a good and healthy product, for what seems a fair price. • Is this a moral act? • What gives an action moralworth?

4. Kant on moral worth • What gives an action moral worth is not: • its good consequences or your goal in doing it • your feeling in doing it • It is that it is: • Done from [a sense of] duty • The duty gets its moral value from its maxim* • The motivation = acting out of respectfor the moral law *Maxim = the ‘guiding principle’ embodied in the action.

5. What makes it a moral act? The grocer’s maxim is: • “Never cheat if you think you can get caught” • “Honesty is best for everyone in the long run” • “Do what makes you feel proud of yourself” • “Do what your society expects of you” • “Do it because it is right”

6. Ultimate Moral Principle = Categorial Imperative Form #1: universalization “I ought never to act in such a way that the maxim on which I act could not be made a universal law.” Form #2: humanity as end “Act in such a way that I treat humanity, in myself or anyone else, always as an end and never as a means.”

7. The Structure of Dutiesperfect vs. imperfect

8. Injunction vs. Suicide/Self-destruction • Kant says suicide is immoral = treating yourself as a means, rather than as an end. • Are there circumstances in which he might accept suicide? What would distinguish them? • Do the same arguments apply to using addictive drugs, e.g. cocaine? Self-mutilation?

9. Immoral or personal choice?

10. Is it ever right to lie? • Suppose we agree it is intrinsically wrong to lie • Do consequences ever trump or outweigh the moral wrong of lying? • Your neighbor Mr. Smith lent you his ax. You hear a violent fight next door, then he comes in your house and asks, “Where is my ax?” • Must you tell the truth?

11. Is stealing always wrong? • A woman was near death from a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. But the druggist was charging $2000 a dose. The sick woman's husband, Heinz, could not afford six months supplies, which was what you needed. He asked to buy it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said: "No, I discovered it and I'm going to make money from it." So Heinz got desperate and broke into the man's store to steal the drug for his wife. Should Heinz have broken into the store to steal the drug for his wife?

12. Injunction to Develop Talents • “May I choose to waste, rather than develop my talents? • (i) is it prudent? (will it lead to happiness?) • (ii) does it conform to duty (i.e. is it wrong)?” • If my maxim = ‘neglect your abilities’ how am I treating myself? • as a ‘means’ (to a pleasant stupor) • as an ‘end’ or ‘complete’ person?

13. Duty to help others • No one can will that no one helps others in need • Persons need to help themselves, sometimes need help to do that • Unclear how much and at what cost to self, or who may be preferred (e.g. relative, countryman) • This duty =secondary to negative duties

14. Kantianism • Provides • universal moral theory • method to analyze if actions are moral • Stresses • autonomy = free will vs. inclination: ability to evaluate/check • moral agents have rights (you must not X) and duties (I must X) • rights of individuals over ‘greater good’ • Claims to refute other theories: • Selfish theories (to individual or group) • ‘Accidental’ theories (impulse or custom-driven) • Consequentialist theories (b/c may  intrinsically wrong actions, violate humanity as an end) • Happiness theories (b/c may be duty to sacrifice our happiness)

15. The Kantian Moral Self • Individual with free will • A “self-legislator” of universal moral duties • Guided by reason to universal moral laws • Has universal rights others should respect: • Life • Liberty • Freedom of thought • Right to property

16. Three Perspectives

17. A 21st Century Moral Dilemma • You are a parent in 2020. Scientists have identified “life-enhancing” genes for mental and physical powers • You are considering getting a set of such genes, to give your child a “genetic head-start” and shape her development. • Should you do it? • What would the utilitarian say? • The Kantian?

18. The Gauguin DilemmaIn 1885, the French artist, Paul Gauguin, made the existential choice to abandon his wife and family to go to the South Seas and paint. His family was left destitute, but he created some of the greatest art in the Western tradition. Was this a morally indefensible choice? What would Kant say? Sartre? Bentham or Mill? Does it matter than he did become great?Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?