Kant s Philosophy Kantian Ethics - 1290 Words

Jonathan Hulbert Professor Fassbender Philosophy 201N April 26, 2015 Kantian Ethics Society, as we know it, is only possible through humans acting in accordance with a universal moral code. Because we as humans are rational beings and have free choice, we can make our own decisions, can hold ourselves to a standard that we ourselves set, and can act in accordance with our standards, as well as set standards for our own society. However, these standards must be held, otherwise they hold no meaning. Kant uses a black and white tactic, in order to determine which actions are moral and immoral. However, Kant’s downfall is his strength. The black and white tactic makes everything very clear, but it lacks the complexity needed to handle more sophisticated problems and decisions. Black and white does not take into account all the shades of gray between, and Kant needs to take into account all the shades of factors that impact human decision-making. Immanuel Kant, a Prussian Philosopher, developed Kantian morality. He believed that reason was enough to motivate humans to act and make decisions. Kantian morality is a theory that is based upon duty, which means that one would act on something based off of certain rules that are in place. Kant s construction of the moral law is founded by the imperatives. All imperative commands are either hypothetically or categorically. Hypothetical imperatives declare what you need to do in order to achieve what you want. Categorical imperativesShow MoreRelatedKantian Ethics And The Categorical Imperative Essay1581 Words   |  7 PagesAnalysis of Kantian Ethics and critiques In Elements of Pure Practical Reason Book, I, Immanuel Kant, a prominent late Enlightenment Era German philosopher discusses his most famous ethical theory, the â€Å"Categorical Imperative.† The â€Å"Categorical Imperative† is a proposed universal law in stating all humans are forbidden from certain actions regardless of consequences. Although this is the general definition of this ethical theory, the Categorical Imperative† exists in two above formulations, A strictRead MoreThe Between Utilitarianism And Deontology1345 Words   |  6 Pageswhat is morally just? Immanuel Kant, the founder of Deontology, along with Jeremy Bentham and James Mills, the founders of Utilitarianism, all attempted to answer this question. Bentham and Mills’ Utilitarianism stresses maximizing pleasure and happiness in the world over pain and unhappiness. 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