Ethics Moral Philosophy What do I do to live a productive life Objectivism Immanuel Kant 1724 1804 Intellect Mind T S Sense Object Object Ideas of Important to be a worthwhile human being 1 God Applying the natural universe to find God will not work only by faith can you find God because no science can show proof of it 2 Free Will I want to do this I can do this 3 Immortality also ruled out by science Intellect Mind T S Sense Object Pure Reason Object Pure Reason Understanding Appriori prior to experience Synthetic from experience Practical Reason Appriori Necessary laws of morality Synthetic particular and practical What is moral philosophy Happiness The nature of the good o Kant says this is more promising than happiness o The good has to be an absolute appriori good under every conceivable situation Cannot be sometimes good Fame can lead to Snootiness Money can lead to Greed Love can lead to jealousy possessiveness Power can lead to abusiveness Etc But what is always good Good will o Good motive or intentions Consequences Good outcomes Indifferent Outcomes Bad outcomes Exercising Good will in each For Example Your neighbor s house is on fire she is an older woman in a wheelchair Good Outcome You go into the house and are able to save her Indifferent Outcome You go into the house and realize she has already escaped the blaze You get out without any injuries Bad Outcome You go into the house but the ceiling collapses before you can get to her But even in the bad outcome your intentions were still always good Quick Review Free Will brings about Practical Reason Practical reason must be appriori and synthetic One thing that is always good is Good Will Informal Guide to tell you that your actions are in Good Will Is this act done out of the sense of duty to the Good Will If yes you have passed the informal guide Deontology Duty Based Basis of one s morality is based on one s duty Example You have 5 and you really want a burrito sandwich etc A homeless mother and her child are walking down the street in your direction You make eye contact and she asks you if you have money to spare for her child s medicine 1 You do it because you like to do it While this is praise worthy it is not morally good 2 Liking is unintended at first you don t want to give her your 5 but afterwards you feel good about it this is morally good 3 You did not like doing it but you did it anyway Although you still don t feel good about it it was still morally good Formal Guide Must hold universal appeal that you can use to determine right and wrong appriori Must be practical synthetic Categorical Imperative necessary self imposed command For any act What would happen should this act become universal law Example helping an old lady across the street Morally Good 1 No Logical Contradiction 2 Logical Contradiction Example Lying What if lying became universal law Lying would then become impossible no lie would ever work and would be self contradictory which shows it is morally wrong Example Murder What if murder became universal law Everyone has to kill everyone Murder becomes impossible No Logical Contradiction but clearly violates the Do Good spirit of the good will Example Gifted individual could be an excellent brain surgeon and save many lives but instead squanders these abilities away elsewhere There will be someone that steps up to fill the place where he she should have been Hypothetical Imperative Objections if I do act X what consequence Y will follow 1 The categorical imperative can be manipulated to justify almost any act a Example Your aunt comes to a family gathering wearing the most absurd hat and she thinks there is nothing wrong with it and likes it a lot She asks you what you think of it And you tell a little white lie to avoid hurting her feelings Lies are considered not morally good 2 The categorical imperative appeals to a hypothetical a What would happen IF this were to become a universal law b Impersonal if i Each and every individual is considered equal when it comes to determining morality 1 How much is your life worth a I am a being of infinite worth not valued by dollars signs 2 Everyone else is of infinite worth as well a means to an life infinite worth end Practical Imperative Treat all rational beings including yourself as ends rather than means o Example The Golden Rule Treat others as you would like to be treated or Love thy neighbor as thyself
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