Preview

Kant Principle Of Morality Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
477 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Kant Principle Of Morality Essay
Kant philosophy has contributed in development of "pure" moral philosophy, a "metaphysics of morals" that is based on the concepts of reason, not on empirical observations. According to his philosophy moral obligations are applicable to all human beings as it applies not only for particular person in particular situation, but also to all rational beings in all circumstances.
The principle of humanity is not borrowed from experience as this is a universal principle and this applies to all rational beings and experience in itself is not enough and is incapable of determining anything and one cannot rely on it alone. And if we consider experience humanity is not considered as the end of the man because humans as an object themselves make an end and if one follows the principle, it should come from pure reason ad should not result from experience only.
According to Kant the principle of humanity is the supreme limiting condition of
…show more content…
The principle of humanity should be based on concepts which are pure and should apply to all. The rational ideas that are followed by all should appeal to all individuals and it would not be possible if these ideas are driven by experiences.
Kant has explained this by giving an example of moral principle that people should not lie and this moral principle applies to all and one cannot lie given on the situation and his past experiences. Not to lie is a basic human nature and it should be respected by all and all community follows this principle.
According to Kant all the practical legislation should be based on the rule since the rule or the law is universal. He believes that all the actions that one take should be based on moral intuitions and actions should be done for the sake of morality alone. These moral behaviors cannot be driven by experiences as this would limit a person but these behaviors should be based on moral

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    another. In this view, the essence of human morality is to derive one’s own principles…

    • 1461 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    There is an old saying that it is better to be lucky than good. This may be true if a person is always lucky, but luck sometimes has a tendency to run out. Making decisions that affect other people’s lives based on luck can be sometimes dangerous, and usually ethically questionable. Leaders who routinely depend on luck for success may find themselves relying on other questionable actions, such as lying, cheating, or stealing, to ensure luck stays on their side. Additionally, this type of behavior may force subordinates to make ethically questionable decisions when luck begins to run out.…

    • 1512 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Immanuel Kant’s Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals starts off by saying there is only one thing that is good without qualification which is a good will. Something can only be good if it is well-matched with a good will. In fact, “a good will is” according to him, “is good not because of what it effects or accomplishes, nor because of its fitness to attain some proposed end; it is good only through its willing i.e., it is good in itself” (7). He states that these specific obligations of a good will are called duties and then makes three propositions about them. Kant then says that “I should never act except in such a way that I can also will that my maxim…

    • 1196 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher from the 18th century who is well known as an essential person in philosophy today. He has made the argument that there are a set of essential ideas that structure human experience and is the source of morality. His thought continues to have a major influence in contemporary thought, especially the fields of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, and aesthetics. Kant’s theory on morality as often been criticized on being too…

    • 78 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Good And Evil Casablanca

    • 1184 Words
    • 5 Pages

    He believed that our actions must come from a sense of Duty, not because we care for or love one another but because it is our Duty to “respect the Moral Law” (p. 246). Judging the importance of a decision based on whether or not it was following a rule or set of rules is called deontological ethics. He believed that it was not the consequences of the action which were important but the person’s motive carrying out the said action. Many disagree with Kant saying that we must have a foundation to start from, a reason such as love or concern to do what is morally…

    • 1184 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    From the way that Kant has been interpreted as a constructivist under the standard model, as Wood’s revealed, one can remark three points about this approach: Overemphasizing on the Formula of Universal Law (FUL), Conception of Value, Conception of Autonomy.…

    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Emmanuel Kant (hereinafter “Kant”) believes that Ethics is categorical and states that our moral duties are not dependent on feelings but on reason. He further states that our moral duties are unconditional, universally valid, and necessary, regardless of the possible consequences or opposition to our inclinations (Pojman and Vaughn 239).…

    • 273 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    One of the most controversial aspects of Kant’s moral philosophy is his theory regarding the concept of duty. Duty is the moral necessity to perform actions for no other reason than to obey the dictates of a higher authority without any selfish inclination. Immanuel Kant states that the only moral motivation is a devotion to duty. The same action can be seen as moral if it is done for the sake of one’s duty but also as not moral (Kant distinguished between immoral and not moral) and simply praise-worthy if it is done out of inclination. Thus, to have moral worth, an action must be done from duty.…

    • 934 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The “moral law”, according to Kant, is when one is to act in accordance with the demands of practical reason, or acting done solely out of respect of duty. He says that moral laws will make you will in a certain way and is not subject to something further. Moral laws apply to all rational being in all places at all times. Overall, he believes that morality is on a basis of a priori, or preceding experience.…

    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Immanuel Kant and his Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals (1785) attempts to uncover a universal moral principal for all to use. According to Kant, we aren’t only knower’s, we are also doers as we act and make certain decisions in the world. He wants to know what decisions we should make and how should we treat people in this diverse world. He contemplates the use of internal feelings of approval or disapproval to know when something is right or wrong, but deems there are many problems with this has feelings are always changing. Kant believes that goodwill and goodwill alone is good in itself without qualification.…

    • 1481 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Phil 3033

    • 402 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Kant’s moral theory begins from the starting point of the good will. In assessing the moral worth on an action we must focus not on the consequences of results of the action, but on the agent’s will ( the motivation of conducting an action is really important).…

    • 402 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kant thinks humans are required to live up to their perfect duties. If one lies they are defying their perfect duty. Lying is a “contradiction in conceivability” and if it is applied on a universal standard…

    • 530 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Immanuel Kant, one of the most significant and popular theorists, was also one of the last key philosophers of the Enlightenment period. Existing ethical assumptions are being deduced using this ethical theory of duty, which argues that the when an action can be supported and willed by practical reason and universal law, it is the right action. Kant did not believe that just mere virtues can measure ethics. Looking at Kant’s general criticisms of previous ethical theories, his definitions of autonomy and heteronomy, his formulation of categorical imperative principle and the relationship between categorical imperative and autonomous ethical choice, the argument is that there is not one theory of ethics that could summarize man’s power to decide what’s good and bad.…

    • 1198 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Kantian Perspective Kant

    • 1714 Words
    • 7 Pages

    According to Kant, categorical imperative is the basis of morality which is determined by a persons’ intent rather than their action. It is motivated by pure reasoning and must apply to everyone regardless of preference. For this reason, Kant introduced the principle of universalizability. It is a three part test using questions to determine if our actions are being universally consistent, fair or selfish. Kant also believes the only good without qualification is good will and only the action performed for the sake of duty are moral. Kant was committed to treating everyone with value, dignity and respect. Even today, Kant’s theories still have a direct impact on how morality is…

    • 1714 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kant believed in the ultimate good and fundamental rationality of humans. This formed the categorical imperative which decides if a decision is good or bad. If a decision can be applied universally and still be possible, it is likely rational. Otherwise the maxim will result in either a contradiction in conception resulting in a perfect duty or a contradiction in will or imperfect duty. Kant also believed that performing a good action for non-rational reasons is not morally good and rational decisions with consequences we cannot be held accountable for as it is outside of…

    • 582 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays