BACKGROUND
This week we are moving onto an examination of universal or rule-based ethics. These are also called deontological. Kant, probably the most famous ethicist in history, is our first figure; we will also look to Martin Luther King, Jr and others as we consider the value of having black-and-white universal rules for basic human rights, right moral action, and dignity. If Aristotle said that we needed to learn how to be courageous, Kant would say that we just need to BE courageous and hold ourselves to the standard of fulfilling our duty to abide by obvious standards of right and wrong.
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We will be critical of Kant’s philosophy, but we should first understand the parts of it that have been important and enduring for ethics.
Before reviewing any materials, please ask yourself these questions:
Are you capable of rational decision-making? For Kant, this means something very specific, but it boils down to not contradicting yourself. If you believe in any basic moral principles, such as it is wrong to lie–Kant believes that RATIONALLY you aren’t allowed to make exceptions for your own self-interest or because you believe lying will lead to better results than telling the truth. Ironically, rationalizing something (making up false reasons) is absolutely opposed to being rational. Kant would very much disagree with Jeff Goldblum’s famous monologue in the Big Chill: Big Chill – Rationalizations – YouTube .
Are you able to command your own actions (i.e. exercise free will)? You may sometimes react without thinking, and you may not be able to command your actions all the time. BUT, at least once in your life, you have willed yourself to action intentionally. A popular example of the difference between instinctive reactions and free choice would be making the decision to run INTO a burning building. Everything in you and every other animal* tells us to run away from danger, but we are able to intentionally command ourselves to act differently using our will! If you said, YES, you are able to command your actions (at least sometimes), then you believe that you have free will. If you said, NO, it doesn’t matter, because you don’t have free will anyway. 😉
Kant takes these two points one step further. He believes that because we can choose to act in accordance to our Reason, we should. To him, our rational capacity is our highest and most uniquely human capacity, and moral or ethical judgments of right and wrong should be made using that ‘highest’ capacity. Moreover, since all of humanity shares this rational capacity, reason is also a UNIVERSAL (applies to everyone) and ABSOLUTE (no exceptions, you either use reason or admit to being irrational) FOUNDATION for moral judgment.
READ and WATCH
These two videos and the introduction at the beginning of this week’s reading are strong enough, that I will not be recording a separate audio lecture. I will record a lecture next week to draw connections between Kant and the rest of our readings. Please watch these two links first: PHILOSOPHY: Immanuel Kant – YouTube and Kant
