Contemporary Moral Problems: The Categorical Imperative by Immanuel Kant
Book: Contemporary Moral Problems: The Categorical Imperative by Immanuel Kant
Library Reference: N/A
Amazon.com Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0495553204/
Quote:
“A good will is not good because of what it effects or accomplishes – because of its fitness for attaining some proposed end: it is good through its will alone – that is , good in its self.” – Immanuel Kant
“Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in you own person or in the person of any other.” – Immanuel Kant
What I expect to learn:
I expect to learn more on the views regarding the nature of good will and how it is differentiated with duty. How this two factors influence how we come up with our decision and how we apply it when we interact with others.
Review:
This chapter basically talks about how good will and duty affects a person’s decision and how a person’s character shows based on how he/she reacts to a situation. I find the ideas of Kant to be both interesting and intellectually stimulating.
It seems that good will has so much influence in people that it would even affect the intelligence, judgment and other talents. Good will is something that a person does unconditionally and has good intentions for the certain act. Each person should be the author of their worn life and should not influenced be other people since good will is something that one decides on doing.
It is true that some people would actually just do something when they have a duty or an obligation to show action and this does not cover good will since it is not in their own free will.
What I have learned:
I have learned that good will has influence in each individuals action since good will tests the character of the person. There are times when I would criticize someone but it is actually good will as long as my intentions are for the better meant of his life because I did not really say bad this to spread bad things about him but to inform him that he has done something wrong and should be corrected.
Review Questions:
1. Explain Kant’s account of the good will.
Kant said that it is impossible to create anything in the world except through good will. Good will is the one that makes intelligence, wit, judgment, etc.
2. Distinguish between hypothetical and categorical imperatives.
Hypothetical is the imperatives that you don’t know beforehand until the condition is given while categorical imperative is something that you already know.
3. State the first formulation of the categorical imperative (using the notion of a universal law), and explain how Kant used this rule to derive some specific duties towards self and others.
Kant says that if an imperative of duty can come from one imperative as the other principles then even in it is not finished the duty may not be and empty concept.
4. State the second vision of the categorical imperative (using the language of means and end) and explain it.
We should judge our own life because we may not always have critiques because you have reach the end of your life.
Discussion Questions:
1. Are the two visions of the categorical imperative just different expressions of one basic rule, or are they two different rules? Defend your view.
It seems that the imperatives are similar since we will realize that both imperatives actually mean that we should be the people managing our own life. The first said that people must have one universal law which is connected to the second imperative that states that one should be definite.
2. Kant claims that an action that is not done from the motive of duty has no moral worth do you agree or not?
I guess this is wrong since there are things that are beyond the motive of our duty. There are things that we do not notice because we want to do it because if we wish to do something we usually pursue it till we actually achieve it.
3. Some commentators think that the categorical imperative (particularly the first formulation) can be used to justify non-moral actions. Is this a good criticism?
I am not so sure about this because I could not decipher the real meaning of the 1st imperative because I think that there is no universal law because not everybody has the same belief and there is no one thing that could do everything.
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