PHIL 150 1st Edition Lecture 16 Outline of Last Lecture I. Harry Truman and Elizabeth AnscombeII. The Categorical ImperativeIII. Kant’s Argument on LyingIV. Conflicts Between RulesV. Kant’s InsightOutline of Current Lecture II. Kant’s Core IdeasIII. Retribution and Utility in the Theory of PunishmentIV. Kant’s RetributivismCurrent LectureKant and Respect for PersonsKant’s Core Ideas- Human beings occupy a special place in creation- Human beings have “an intrinsic worth” or “dignity” that makes them valuable “above all price”- Other animals have value only insofar as they serve human purposes- Two facts support his judgment: Because people have desires, things that satisfy those desires can have value for people People have a “dignity” because they are rational agents capable of making their own decisions, setting their own goals, and guiding their conduct by reason- All of our duties can be derived from one ultimate principle: Categorical Imperative- Categorical Imperative: Act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or inthat of another, always as an end and never as a means onlyRetribution and Utility in the Theory of Punishment- Jeremy Bentham: All punishment is mischief; all punishment is evil- Retributivism advocates the infliction of suffering without any compensating gain in happiness- Kant was a retributivistThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- Utilitarian view: our duty is to do whatever will increase the amount of happiness in the world- Punishment provides comfort and gratification to victims and their families- By locking up or executing criminals, we are taking them of the street- Punishment reduces crime by deterring would-be criminals- A well designed system of punishment might help to rehabilitate wrong doersKant’s Retributivism- Kant despised the serpent-windings of Utilitarianism because the theory is incompatible with human dignity It has us calculating how to use people as means to our ends Rehabilitation is really just the attempt to mold people into what we want them to be- Wrongdoers must be punished; the punishment must fit the
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