Kant’s Ethics

Posted on April 22, 2017

This post covers, in an outline, the main ideas in his Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals.
Good for students in Phil. 101 and other interested readers who need a review.

Let’s get started with the outline of the main points.

I. Preface

A. Basis of obligation

1.. Not in inclination of man

2. Nor in circumstances in the world

B. Where?

1. A priori in the conception of pure reason

2. A priori means before experience (note the word prior).

3. By the way, a posteriori = after Experience (note word post)–Kant ain’t into this
right now

C. Why?

1. Universality

2. There is Moral Law beyond mere experience

II. Good Will

A. It is good without qualification

B. Intelligence, qualities of temperament?

1. These can be good or bad

2. Only Good Will can make good use of them

C. Gifts of fortune, e.g. power, riches, honor, health?

1.. All these boil down to happiness (contrast Aristotle)

2. May lead to pride w/o Good Will to correct their influence

D. Moderation of the passions, calm, self-control?

1.. Coolness of thief still bad b/c he has no GW

E. Thus, Good Will is good in itself

1.. Not because of what it performs or effects (action and results)

 2. But good regardless of results, like a jewel

3. By the way, Good Will is not mere wish, but full human power

III. Reason over Inclination (Instinct?)

A. Human has “physical constitution of an organized being”

B. If goal in life is . . .

1.. Conservatism (self-preservation), welfare, happiness . . .

2. Then reason and will are bad to carry out those inferior goals (contrast Aristotle)

3. Inclination (Instinct?) would be better suited

C. Does Reason apply itself to goal of happiness?

1.. Then failure to reach goal because “cultivated” reason may deny path to
happiness

D. Thus, reason has nobler goal than happiness

1.. That is a criticism (misunderstanding) of Aristotle

E. Reason acts on will to be good itself, not as a means to an end or goal, i.e. happiness

1.. First, unconditional purpose: Good Will, good in itself, not out for a shallow reward

2. Second, conditional purpose: happiness; so Kant concedes this point

IV. First Proposition of Morality

A. Action must be done from duty if it is to have moral worth

B. Some exemptions from (true) duty

1.. Action that conforms to duty but done w/ selfish motives

2. Conforms to duty but agent has direct inclination to do it

a. For example, a seller should not overcharge inexperienced buyer—bad for

business in long run; or motive is honesty and business, not duty

C. True duty in action

1. First example

Normal man preserving his life (no big deal)

vs.

A man in despair and holds death wish, but lives on anyway

“Then his maxim [personal policy or principle] has a moral worth” (that’s a big deal!)

2. Second Example
 Man who is already inclined to “spread joy” around him (no big deal!)

vs.

Philanthropist’s mind is clouded by sorrow that extinguishes concern for others, but
performs philanthropy in spite of distress . . .

“Then first has his action its genuine moral worth”

“Beneficent, not from inclination, but from duty”

That’s a big deal!

D. Inclination seeks happiness

1. But promote happiness from duty, not inclination—then his conduct acquires true
moral worth, e.g. a “gouty” patient

E. Love your neighbor

1.. Love not from emotion and inclination

2. But out of the Will

V. Second Proposition of Morality

A. Action done from duty

1.. Derives moral worth not from purpose (or goal), but from maxim (personal policy)
by which it is determined

B. Sequence: Motive (before you act) OR goal (after you act)

Motive → Goal

1.. Motive is more important.

C. Two Roads

1.. A priori (Reason)—this one for Kant

2. A posteriori (Experience)–not this one for Kant

VI. Third Proposition of Morality

A. Duty is necessity of acting from respect for law

B. Inclination may deny or disregard this respect

C. Moral Good

1. Consists in the “conception of law in itself, which certainly is only possible in a

rational being”

2. Conception, not expected effect (desired results), must determine the will

VII. Categorical Imperative

 A. What sort of law is this?

B. Law in general

1. Kant Speaks:

“Can you also will that your [personal] maxim should be a universal law?”

2. Impossible to be a universal legislation? Then reject it

3. Kant Speaks:

“Reason extorts from me immediate respect for such legislation” [universal law]

C. Example:

1. False or lying promise

2. Can you will that your [personal] maxim [to lie] be a universal law?

3. Person of reason and Good Will says no.

D. Inclination v. Reason

1.. Inclination shifts, shallow

2. Reason (a priori) is deep and pure

3. Kant Speaks:

Whence [from where] have we the conception of God as the supreme good? Simply from the
idea of moral perfection, which reason frames a priori and connects inseparably with the notion
of free will.

VIII. Rational Grounds of Categorical Imperative

A. Not hypothetical

1. Not from examples

2. Not from experience

B. Grounds is Categorical (for everyone)

1. Reason

2. Will is drawn to it

3. Valid across cultural borders (except maybe for “savages”)

IX. First Formulation of Categorical Imperative

A. Kant explains:

“Act only on that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become universal
law”
 B. Four Examples

1.. Man in despair: suicide? Can he will that to become universal law?

2. Man in financial straits: borrow deceitfully? Can he will that to become universal
law?

3. Man with cultural benefit: stay home and “party down”? Can he will that to become
universal law?

4. Rich man who sees others in need: ignore them? Can he will that to become
universal law?

5. A person of reason and Good Will says no to those four situations

X. Second Formulation

A. Humanity as end [goal] in itself

1.. In the old time philosophers, “end” usually means goal or purpose, as in “end
zone” in football. It’s the whole point of the game.

B. Kant Speaks:

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 [think stepping stone or path to get there] to an end [think goal
or end zone], but always at the same time as an end.

C. Rational–man is a rational being, so he is the end (end zone or goal) in itself, not a
means (stepping stone) to a goal.

D. So a person, not a thing. Humans make up a kingdom of rational beings.

E. Treat person, not as a means (stepping stones) to an end (goal), but as the end itself

To summarize, moral law can be followed only with one’s reason, not inclination (or instinct or
natural impulses). One must do one’s duty from reason and Good Will, which only reason apart
from experience can sort out.

A priori means before (note the word prior) your personal experience. You must use pure
reason to discover universal law or the Categorical Imperative

See Hume’s Theory of Knowledge for more discussion on a priori.