Visit www.RMPSuccess.com Kantian ethics is, arguably, the most beautiful Philosophy written. It is grand, intimidating, and at times quixotic; however, it has been an integral component of the Higher and Intermediate curriculum and thus required the proper intention. When a student is faced with Kant’s lofty descriptions of ‘duty’ and ‘good’ one can’t help but feel for them. I must assure you, whilst bearing in mind everything I have said, for the studious mind it is also one of the most engaging pieces of philosophy and one in which you will be able to write about hopefully with interest.

1. Higher RMPS – 05/12/11
Kantian
Ethics

2. Using the above words for guidance,
list 3 disadvantages of Utilitarianism.

3. What will we be learning?
o I understand the main principals
of Kantian Ethics.
o I can identify advantages and
disadvantages of this viewpoint.

4. What will we be learning?
o How does Kant say we should act
towards each other?
o How does Kant interpret duty?
o What is the ‘summon bonum’?
o What is the Categorical Imperative?
o What is universality?

5. What is Deontology?
Deon - tology
‘Duty’ ‘Study of’
Deontology is the study
of both the actions and
intentions of actions to
determine the morality
thereof.

6. Immanuel Kant
1723 – 1804
o German Philosopher
o Born privileged
o Deeply religious
o University at 16
o The Enlightenment
o Copernican Revolution
o Contemporary of Hume
o Before Bentham.

7. 18th Century Germany
Prussian Enlightened
Wars Absolutism
Holy Roman
Empire

8. “Act in such a way that you treat humanity,
whether in your own person or in the person
of any other, never merely as a means to an
end, but always at the same time as an end.”
Immanuel Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, 1785

9. Means to an End…
Kant saw that peoples’ actions were based on the
end result. He proposed a shift in thinking.
Instead of using people to achieve your goals,
make your goals to serve people.
“The ends do not justify the means.”

10. Duty…
Kant noted that it is everyone’s
duty to act out of good-will.
‘Duty’ is what you ‘should’
do in a situation.

11. Kant posited that there were
two types of knowledge…
A Priori Posteriori
Knowledge gained Knowledge gained
with reason through experience

12. Kant posited that there were
two types of knowledge…
A Priori Posteriori
Knowledge gained Knowledge gained
with reason through experience

13. Kant posited that there were
two types of knowledge…
A Priori Posteriori
Knowledge gained Knowledge gained
with reason through experience

14. Reason
Kant believed in the Sovereignty of
Reason. He believed that there were
moral absolutes. An absolute ‘right’ and
an absolute ‘wrong’ and that it is with
reason we discover them.

15. The Groundwork
1) The intentions and the actions matter
more than the consequences.
2) People should not be used as a means
to an end.
3) Duty is was you ‘should’ to do out of
good-will.
4) Morality, right and wrong, is fixed and
can be reasoned. We can decide wha
to do by applying reason.

16. ‘Summum Bonum’
The ULTIMATE Good.
Where happiness and Virtue coexist.
Heaven?

17. The Categorical
Imperative
Act only according to
that maxim whereby
you can, at the same
time, will that it should
become a universal
law.

18. The Categorical Imperative…
The Categorical Imperative is a system
that everyone can, and should, use to
reason moral laws (Maxims) that
everyone should follow, everywhere…

19. The Categorical Imperative…
If you were King of the world, what
would your first ruling be?
I decree today Kit-
Kat Tuesday!

20. The Categorical Imperative…
Is this something, that everyone,
everywhere, could follow?
No 

22. Maxims, basically, are rules. For Kant they
had to have universality – one rule that can
be applied to every person equally.
Start
Is there a universal maxim?
Yes No
Go Forward Start again

23. Next Kant showed that for the Maxim to
work it had to be motivate by you
WANTING to do it and not simply doing
it out of instinct or habit.
Is the Maxim motivated by Duty?
Yes No
Go Forward Go Back to Start

24. Lastly, he had to make sure that the
actions would treat people as an end in
themselves, and not a means to an end.
Are you sure the Maxim does not
use people in order to work?
Yes No
Go Forward Go Back to Start

25. If your maxim has satisfied universality
and our motivation is of duty, and
helping someone is your focus, then it is
morally right to do.
More importantly, you are morally
compelled to fulfil your duty.
GO ON, DO’S IT!

26. Application
You arrive home from work
to find a baby left on
your doorstep.
1) Using Kant’s Categorical
Imperative decide how you
should act.
2) What, if any, problems can
there be in this method?