2. Normative Ethical Theories: Kantian Ethics

A deontological ethical theory.

2.1 Content

• Kantian ethics, including:
– duty
– the hypothetical imperative
– the categorical imperative and its three formulations
– the three postulates

2.2 Knowledge

• origins of the concept of duty (acting morally according to the good regardless of consequences) in deontological and absolutist approaches to ethics
• what the hypothetical imperative is (a command to act to achieve a desired result) and why it is not the imperative of morality
• what the categorical imperative is (a command to act that is good in itself regardless of consequences) and why it is the imperative of morality based on:
1) Formula of the law of nature (whereby a maxim can be established as a universal law)
2) Formula of the end in itself (whereby people are treated as ends in themselves and not means to an end)
3) Formula of the kingdom of ends (whereby a society of rationality is established in which people treat each other as ends and not means)

• what the three postulates are and why in obeying a moral command they are being accepted:
1) Freedom
2) Immortality
3) God

2.3 Issues as the basis of exam questions

Learners should have the opportunity to discuss issues raised by Kant’s approach to ethics, including:
• whether or not Kantian ethics provides a helpful method of moral decision-making
• whether or not an ethical judgement about something being good, bad, right or wrong can be based on the extent to which duty is best served
• whether or not Kantian ethics is too abstract to be applicable to practical moral decision-making
• whether or not Kantian ethics is so reliant on reason that it unduly rejects the importance of other factors, such as sympathy, empathy and love in moral decision-making

2.4 Suggested scholarly views, academic approaches and sources of wisdom and authority

For reference, the ideas of Kant listed above can be found in:
• Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, Chapter 2

Learners will be given credit for referring to any appropriate scholarly views, academic approaches and sources of wisdom and authority, however the following examples may prove useful:
• Pojman, L. (2012) Discovering Right and Wrong, Stamford: Wadsworth, Chapter 8
• O’Neill, O. ‘Kantian Approaches to Some Famine Problems’ in ed. Shafer-Landau, R. (2013) Ethical Theory: An Anthology, Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell