The Metaphysic Of Morals By Immanuel Kant - 1199 Words

Groundwork for the Metaphysic of Morals by Immanuel Kant: A Reflection and Analysis Author name Name of institution In man’s attempt to figure out what is right or wrong, they have developed a number of systems that purportedly deal with such matters. Immanuel Kant expanded on his moral philosophy in his work, Groundwork for the Metaphysic of Morals. This paper will be a reflection upon Kantian ethical principles presented therein and their relation to what is generally called morality. People have tried to understand and define morality for thousands of years. It is and has been a complex issue that seems to elude simple answers, but many would agree that morals are principles that distinguish between right and wrong, usually in†¦show more content†¦A categorical imperative is an unqualified command: independent of what one desires, one should to behave in some manner.This differs from a hypothetical imperative, which gives a conditional command: if one desires X, then one should act in a way that helps bring about X. His three formulations of the categorical imperatives are as follows; 1) people should only act in accordance with a dictum that they can also wish to become a universal law, 2) they should act in manner that always treats the whole of humanity never as a mere means, but always as an end, and 3) all are required to act as if he were, by his axioms, responsible for the formulation and enactment of laws in a universal sense. Immanuel Kant’s had a deontological view of ethics, meaning that it gauges the morality of a behavior or an act based on a set of dictates. He believed that for people to behave in a truly moral manner, their act must be derived from a sense of duty. He believed that these duties should be based on â€Å"pure reason† and drew a distinction between perfect (universal and logically coherent) and imperfect duties (situational, yet still based on reason). Kant believed reason to be both a logical and a transcendental. As a logical form, it produces moderated judgements through conceptual abstractions, as a transcendental faculty, it creates hypotheticals and contains a priori perceptions that cannot be justified empirically.He also felt that the only thing that made an action right wasShow MoreRelatedThe Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant Essay1150 Words   |  5 Pagesof morals in the Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Immanuel Kant explores the question of wh ether a human being is capable of acting solely out of pure duty and if our actions hold true moral value. In passage 407, page 19, Kant proposes that if one were to look at past experiences, one cannot be certain that his or her rationalization for performing an action that conforms with duty could rest solely on moral grounds. In order to fully explain the core principle of moral theory, Kant distinguishesRead MoreImmanuel Kant - Metaphysics of Morals Essay1580 Words   |  7 PagesIn his publication, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, Immanuel Kant supplies his readers with a thesis that claims morality can be derived from the principle of the categorical imperative. The strongest argument to support his thesis is the difference between actions in accordance with duty and actions in accordance from duty. To setup his thesis, Kant first draws a distinction between empirical and a priori concepts. Empirical concepts are ideas we reach from our experiences in the worldRead MoreImmanuel Kant s Metaphysics Of Morals897 Words   |  4 PagesIn Immanuel Kant’s Groundwork of Metaphysics of Morals, Kant argues that one’s duty requires an individual to act against one’s inclinations, wants and desires, in order to achieve a higher moral worth. For Kant, the concept of duty is something that you ought to do despite not wanting to, assuming the duty is possible. A duty contains the concept of good will, or acting on one’s duty, against one’s inclinations, which is how moral worth is achieved. In order for an individual to achieve a higherRead MoreImmanuel Kant s Metaphysics Of Morals2091 Words   |  9 PagesImmanuel Kant’s Metaphysics of Morals The Greeks classified their philosophy into three fields, namely: †¢ Physics †¢ Ethics †¢ Logic All these three fields tend to interrelate in an attempt to describe nature and the life we live in. Physics is also known as the ‘doctrine of nature’ since it attempts to describe almost all the happenings of life (Wood W. Allen). Physics explains phenomenon such as why does the sun come out during the day, why do we see different colors and so on. It is an attempt toRead MoreGrounding For The Metaphysics Of Morals And On Groveling By Immanuel Kant891 Words   |  4 PagesImmanuel Kant discusses the second and third translation pieces in â€Å"Key Selections.† In Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals and On Groveling, Kant explains that humans have an animal-like nature. If Kant was charged with the statement, â€Å"Bottom line, humans are nothing more than insignificant creatures with an animal nature,† he would have a mixed response to the charge. Although Kant may not believe that neither humans or animals are insignificant, he would recognize the re lation and similaritiesRead MoreImmanuel Kant Metaphysics of Morals Essay895 Words   |  4 PagesKant argued that moral requirements are based on a standard of rationality he dubbed the Categorical Imperative (CI). Immorality thus involves a violation of the CI and is thereby irrational. This argument was based on his striking doctrine that a rational will must be regarded as autonomous, or free in the sense of being the author of the law that binds it. The fundamental principle of morality Ââ€" the CI Ââ€" is none other than this law of an autonomous will. Thus, at the heart of Kants moralRead MoreA Summary of Groundworks of the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant1290 Words   |  6 Pages------------------------------------------------- Critique of Practical Reason and Groundwork for the Metaphysic of Morals Summary Groundwork for the Metaphysic of Morals, published in 1785, is Kant’s first major work in ethics. Like the Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics, the Groundwork is the short and easy-to-read version of what Kant deals with at greater length and complexity in his Critique. The Critique of Practical Reason, published three years later, contains greater detail than theRead MoreThird Breaking Down His Most Important Philosophies1097 Words   |  5 PagesGroundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals 2. Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science 3. Critique of Practical Reason 4. Critique of the Power of Judgment 5. Critique of Pure Reason a. Knowledge b. Metaphysics Topic: Critique of Pure Reason In order to understand Kant’s position, we must first understand the philosophical environment that influenced his thinking. There are two major historical movements in the early modern period of philosophy that had a very large impact on Kant: Empiricism andRead MoreComparing David Hume and Immanuel Kant Essay1356 Words   |  6 PagesComparing David Hume and Immanuel Kant David Hume and Immanuel Kant each made a significant break from other theorists in putting forward a morality that doesn’t require a higher being or god, for a man to recognize his moral duty. Although Hume and Kant shared some basic principals they differed on their view of morality. In comparing the different views on human will and the maxims established to determine moral worth by David Hume and Immanuel Kant, I find their theories on morality have someRead MoreImmanuel Kant And The Ford Pinto Case991 Words   |  4 Pages Immanuel Kant and The Ford Pinto Case Immanuel Kant ¶s theory on morals states that  ³nothing can possibly be conceived in the world, or even out of it, which can be called good, without qualification, except a good will. ´ 1 Kant points to other human qualities such as courage, intelligence, wit and others that are  ³undoubtedly good and desirable, ´ 2 however, can become bad if the will of the person using them is not good. Kant maintains that in order for an action to be considered moral, it