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Kant and Rights Theory

Kant believed that morality is based on reason alone. He developed the categorical imperative, which states that moral actions are those that can be universalized and respect humanity as an end in itself. For Kant, an action has moral worth only if it is done from a sense of duty rather than inclination. He distinguished between categorical imperatives, which are moral obligations derived from pure reason, and hypothetical imperatives, which depend on one's desires.

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304 views2 pages

Kant and Rights Theory

Kant believed that morality is based on reason alone. He developed the categorical imperative, which states that moral actions are those that can be universalized and respect humanity as an end in itself. For Kant, an action has moral worth only if it is done from a sense of duty rather than inclination. He distinguished between categorical imperatives, which are moral obligations derived from pure reason, and hypothetical imperatives, which depend on one's desires.

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Shanea Villania
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Kant and Rights Theory

Immanuel Kant
• Born on April 22, 1724, Königsberg, Prussia
• Died February 12, 1804, Königsberg
• German philosopher whose comprehensive and systematic
work in epistemology (the theory of knowledge), ethics,
and aesthetics greatly influenced all subsequent
philosophy, especially the various schools of Kantianism
and idealism.
• was one of the foremost thinkers of the Enlightenment and
was one of the greatest philosophers of all time.

Kant’s Theory of Rights


According to Kant, the "Universal Principle of Right" is that "an action is right if it can
coexist with everyone's freedom in accordance with Universal Law, or if on its maxim the freedom
of choice of each can coexist with everyone's freedom in accordance with a Universal Law."

Legally and Morally Right


• An action is legally right if it is at the same time in accordance with universal law, that is,
in accordance with the categorical imperative.
• An action is morally right if it may not be just following the law, but doing more than
what the law requires like responding to the need of another.

Kant’s Ethics
• He categorically rejects that ethical judgements are based on feelings. It serve as
obstruction to our discernment of right and wrong
• Ethical theory bases moral judgements on reason alone. For Kant, it is what deems an
action whether ethical or not.

1.1 Goodwill
• He believes that when we wish to determine the moral status on an action, we consult
reason.
• An act whether accords with reason or does not
• REASON: One of the functions and capabilities of it is to produce a will - which is good
• It is the highest good or virtue
• A good person or a person of good will is the one who acts from a sense of duty

Duty
Acting for the Sake of Duty and Acting in Accordance with Duty

The nature of duty and good will we can see why Kant says that to act from good will is
acting for the sake of duty. We act despite our desires to do otherwise. For Kant this means that
acting for the sake of duty is the only way that an action can have moral worth.

It must be an act done by the sense of duty not from inclination

1.2 Categorical and Hypothetical Imperative


Categorical Imperative Hypothetical Imperative
Commands you must follow, regardless of Most of the time, whether or not we ought to
your desires. Moral obligations are derived do something isn't really a moral choice-
from pure reason. instead, it's just contingent on our desires.
An if-then command. They are commands
that you should follow if you want something
It's about prudence rather than morality

Formulations of Categorical Imperative


UNIVERSALIZABILITY PRINCIPLE

"Act only according to that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it become a
universal law"

THE FORMULA OF HUMANITY

"Act that you use humanity, in your own person as well as in the person of any other, always at
the same time as an end, never merely as a means"

Keywords:

Maxim – a rule or principle of action

Universal Law – something that must always be done in similar situation

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