Ethics

Ethics Study Guide

Chapter 4: Deontological Theories

©2018 Achieve Page 27 of 116 Identify and explain Kant’s three formulations of the categorical imperative. 2. Identify and describe the relationships among Kant’s hypothetical imperatives. 3. Describe criticism of deontological theories. 4. Explain why Kantianism is based on rationality. 4.1 Deontological Ethics Deontology is the science of duty. This approach focuses on the rightness or wrongness of motives. It is also described as duty or obligation based ethics, because deontologists believe that ethical rules bind you to your duty. These duties or obligations are usually determined by God; therefore, being moral is often a matter of obeying God. Divine Command Theory is an example of deontological theory. 4.2 Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) paved a new way for the thought processes of ethics. He did not take the standard role many before him did; instead, he chose to question, as did Socrates, the wrongness of human acts. Humans are able to choose and judge what actions they take for rightness. When one chooses to commit a wrongful act, that person will not be looked upon favorably. In one of Kant’s writings, he described and distinguished between what is good, what is not good, and the factors that determine this. He believed good will is the only good that is without qualification in existence, while explaining how something can only be good if it is compatible with good itself. Kant helped to relate this in regards to one performing a duty out of duty or just doing it for no other purpose. This, in turn, is what makes a good person good. In addition, it is the presence of self- governing reason in each person that Kant thought offered decisive grounds for viewing each individual as possessed of equal worth and deserving of equal respect. Kantianism is a deontological, act-based, human valuing philosophy. Kant believed people were inherently bad and that we needed to use our reason to come up with a moral framework to transcend mortal life and ultimately gain entrance to heaven. To do this, people have to live by acts that are as selfless as possible. Kant believed moral principles were objects of rational choice. The central idea of Kant’s ethic is the emphasis on the importance of reason and the rational nature of moral principles. He believed that the meaning of morality was duty, simply for the sake of duty. Since the only thing that is unconditionally good, without qualification, is good will, he believed we must act from duty to have Objectives After reading this chapter, you should be able to: 1.