Essay on Analysing Kant - 710 Words

Kant Sewction 1 Kant starts off making two distinctions regarding kinds of knowledge, empirical/rational and formal/material. Empirical or experience-based knowledge is contrasted with rational knowledge, which is independent of experience. This distinction between empirical and rational knowledge rests on a difference in sources of evidence used to support the two different kinds of knowledge. Formal is contrasted with material knowledge. Formal knowledge has no specific subject matter; it is about the general structure of thinking about any subject matter whatsoever. Material knowledge is of a specific subject matter, either nature or freedom. Rational knowledge is metaphysics, of which there are two branches, the metaphysics of†¦show more content†¦It also means that the rule applies to all rational beings and not only to human beings. In this second sense we can say that the rule is universally binding. So in fact, moral rules are universal and necessary. If a moral rule is to be univer sal and necessary, the moral law must be derived from concepts of pure reason alone. Therefore, if a moral rule or law can only be derived from reason alone, there must be a pure moral philosophy whose task is to provide such a derivation. In the quot;Groundingquot;, Kant sets himself the task of establishing the quot;supreme principle of moralityquot; from which to make such a derivation. According to Kant good will and only a good will is intrinsically good. Kant distinguishes two different types of intrinsic or extrinsic goods. If a thing is only extrinsically good, then it is possible for that thing not to be good, or to be bad or evil. Intrinsic goodness is goodness in itself; if a thing is intrinsically good, its goodness is essential to it; and its goodness is not a function of factors other than itself. Kant holds that only a good will, not happiness, is intrinsically good. The idea that it is reason rather than natural impulse which guides action for the sake of happiness i s false. Parts of a person perform their functions by surviving and this provides happiness for the person. Reason functions poorly in serving that purpose; instinct does better job. Natural instinct rather thanShow MoreRelatedKant s Philosophy On Moral Philosophy Essay1519 Words   |  7 PagesAlthough Kant s philosophy, outlined in The Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, has some value as a moral guide, it alone is not always sufficient. After analysing Kant s objective moral imperative, I will show that implementing his philosophy has the potential to permit what is considered to be immoral. This is due to its rigid conditions, which are formed on the basis that he believes in the existence of a perfect morality that always holds true. However, I will argue that there is notRead MoreAnalysis Of Minority Report1067 Words   |  5 PagesThe 2002 film, Minority Report, seems to contain the aspects of a Kantian approach, but when analysing the movie in further detail, does i t hold its place? The Pre-crime program punishes individuals for having the intent to murder another, even when the action does not take place. Kant elaborates his standards pertaining ethics in Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, where Pre-crime can be further understood. Minority Report takes place in the year 2054, crime is virtually eradicated fromRead MoreKant s Categorical Imperative Essay1454 Words   |  6 Pagesexplain the concept of Kant’s Categorical Imperative, and show how he used it to justify why it is wrong to lie to an inquiring murderer. I will note how he arrived at this conclusion, and why I consider it to be the correct moral answer. According to Kant, the Categorical Imperative is the supreme law of morality by which a particular rule that an individual takes as a maxim must be accepted by all rational beings. This universal acceptance is what judges an action to be always good, provided thatRead MoreEthical Theories That We Have Taught Are Deontological Ethics And Utilitarianism1163 Words   |  5 Pagesthese individual actions to allow for the fact that some needs can best be met communally. Daniel Odze states (2011), Kant’s Deontology theory, this theory judges an individual’s actions and intentions to fulfil a duty regardless of the consequences. Kant believe that if an action had moral intentions, therefore it is morally relevant no matter what the consequences are. This theory states that consequences of an action does not matter and have no moral relevance, only intentions are morally applicableRead MoreA Kantian Perspective On The International System1489 Words   |  6 PagesKantian world might look like and secondly by analysing the three main articles and their major concepts (respectively republics, non-aggression and universal hospitality) and comparing them with today’s world. First, the Kantian perspective on the international system, expressed in his work Perpetual Peace (Kant 1795), can be summarized in three main articles. The first one, stating that ‘the civil constitution of every state should be republican’ (Kant 1795, 13), shows that a Kantian world wouldRead Morecategorical imperative2232 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿Explain with examples, Kant s theory of the Categorical Imperative Kant believed that there is an objective moral law this meant, he did not depend on a point of view. If there is a moral law there is a duty to obey this law. To act morally, it is necessary to have a good will for example to help someone just because it would be the right thing to do in the certain situation. Morality is made up of categorical imperatives meaning that you should do something simply because they are theRead MoreIs Democracy Promotion A Mask For Hegemonic Power?1546 Words   |  7 Pagesthinkers say that the spread of democracy will lead to peace. Immanuel Kant was the first who talked about the liberal peace. In the essay â€Å"On Perpetual Peace†, Kant’s intention was to get out states from their natural state, the state of conflict or the permanent war. â€Å"The practicability and objective realization of this idea of Federalism, inasmuch as it has to spread itself over all States and thereby lead to Perpetual Peace† (Kant, 1795, p.20). I n other words, the premise of Kant’s work is that peaceRead MoreThe Ethics Of Kantian Ethics3078 Words   |  13 PagesKantian style of ethics in the modern era. German philosopher Immanuel Kant has established a theory based on a simple few concepts. Some of the key features of this theory are intrinsic goodness, moral worth and a few others that I will establish further later in the essay. In this thesis I will be highlighting if consequences play a sufficiently important role in Kantian ethics. I will argue the case that according to Kant, consequences do not play a sufficient enough role in his ethics, howeverRead MoreAnalysing The Supreme Principle Of Morality1809 Words   |  8 PagesAnalysing the Supreme Principle of Morality In Immanuel Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, he aims to identify and establish â€Å"the supreme principle of morality† (4:392). In other words, his work sets out to demonstrate the function of what Kant calls the â€Å"Categorical imperative†. The purpose of this essay is to first explain the conception of Kant’s Categorical imperative. It will then discuss the application of this within his Universal Law formulation, as well as within the formulaRead MoreUtilitarian Analysis : The Volkswagen Dilemma1250 Words   |  5 Pagesformulations of the Categorical Imperative. The first formulation refers to the universal acceptability and claims that that we should â€Å"Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law† (Kant, Grounding, p.30). A maxim describing the action might be: â€Å"I will install a device to cover up pollutant emissions that are above environmental protection standards and therefore be able to sell cars in markets where it wouldn’t be allowed.† Following