Analysis Of Kantian Moral Theory

Submitted By umpire
Words: 1688
Pages: 7
Open Document
GLST 210
Values Analysis, Second Paper Assignment
March 9th, 2013
Kantian Moral Theory
Kantian’s moral theory is a normative ethical theory that was first proposed German philosopher Immanuel Kant in the late 1700’s that is based on the idea of moral duty. In Kant’s theory the view that consequences determine the morality of an action is rejected because it is possible to do something that may be considered to be morally wrong by some, but it has the possibility of helping society. This theory is considered to be deontological because Kant states that actions are morally right in virtue of their motives.
Throughout life and society there are plenty of instances of circumstances that may be viewed as morally wrong by some, but the thing that is viewed as morally wrong is done with the plan of helping others. In Kant’s opinion an action is to be considered as morally correct if it was done out of good will, not by if it was viewed morally correct by society. He believed that an individual must do the right things for the right reasons and those reasons can’t be to solely benefit themselves.
According to Kant every person has a duty that they are obligated to perform in every different occasion. To help us to determine what our duty in every occasion may be Kant provided us with the categorical imperative. The Categorical Imperative states the form that a moral rule must have. There are two tests that are the basis of the Categorical Imperative or CI procedure. These two tests are universalizability and respect for others as ends in themselves.
In the book, the principle of universalizability is defined by stating that an act is morally acceptable if, and only if, the reason for doing the action is justified in doing good. If a circumstance is able to meet these two criteria that are being tested, then according to Kant’s Moral theory it is morally correct and we are obligated to perform the act. Kant believed that are moral duties are categorical imperatives, we are all rational human beings therefore they apply to us. He also thought that CI’s are something that we have to obey even if we don’t want to, and even if obeying them benefits us in no way that we may care about. While the theory of universalizability puts an emphasis on fairness, another Kant principle that focuses on how respect and dignity are vital for morality is the principle of humanity. He believed that we should always treat human beings, including ourselves, as an end, and never be considered as mere means. Treating someone as an end is considered to be treating them with the respect they deserve, while treating someone as a mean is treating someone in a way that you hope they will assist you in achieving your goals. This ties in with the overview of Kant’s moral theory because it is ok to do something that may be viewed morally wrong in order to help someone, also known as treating them as an end, as long as you are not doing it with a goal of benefiting yourself, which would be treating someone as a mean.
An example to assist in trying to explain Kant’s theory that hit close to home with me is a police officer involved shooting. This example hits close to home with me because both my dad and my uncle are police officers, so I’ve had to deal with the possibility of my dad not coming home at night every day since I was three years old. A few weeks ago here in Springfield, there was an armed and dangerous criminal who had committed a crime and then barricaded himself in a house. The criminal would not negotiate with officers, and when the police tried to arrest him he opened fire and shot a police officer. In order to save the lives of innocent civilians as well as the other officers on the scene the swat team then opened fire on the criminal and killed him. Sometimes police officers have to shoot and kill violent criminals, although killing someone is viewed to be morally wrong in this circumstance it is done with the purpose
Show More

Related Documents: Analysis Of Kantian Moral Theory

The Characters Of Mr. John Proctor

Dear Mr. John Proctor, I am concerned about my best friend Abigail and the way you two have been sneaking around. I would greatly appreciate it if you would come out with your secret. I have known about you two for a short while now and I have decided that you need to do something about it. I understand that it is just as much Abigail’s problem as it is yours, but with you being of a more respectable age it should be your doing to tell the public what has happened between you two. You are much…

Words 434 - Pages 2

Mrs. Hale In John Wright's House

Mrs. Hale says she didn’t visit the Wright’s house much because it never seemed to be a cheerful place and suggests that John Wright was not a very pleasant man either. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters start collecting clothes to bring to Mrs. Wight in jail. As they’re going through the items, they talk about how Mrs. Wright use to do things such as making bread and then just suddenly stopped. The women mention how Minnie Wright was previously married, and when she was Mrs. Foster she was pretty and lively…

Words 269 - Pages 2

Essay on Mr John Davis

CIVILIAN USE OF ARMY OBSTACLE COURSE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE 1. Please complete the all details below. Participants Full Name:__________________ _____DOB_____________Tel:__ _____________ Address: ___________________ ______ Emergency contact name and telephone number:________ _________________________ 2. Please read the following questions…

Words 597 - Pages 3

The Pigman Essay

and John Conlan, get involved with an older man named Mr. Pignati. The story alternates every chapter from John’s to Lorraine’s point of view. John, Lorraine, and a couple of their friends have a prank-call game as one of their avocations, and they prank call a man named Mr. Pignati. John and Lorraine convince him to donate money to a made up fund by telling a prevarication, and go to his house to collect the money. Afterward, Lorraine feels mortified, so John uses the money for himself. Mr. Pignati…

Words 626 - Pages 3

The Pigman Chapter Summaries

of John and Lorraine. John has an avocation of pranking people. But, Lorraine is just not into that kind of stuff. One day, John put bombs in the bathroom because there was a lonely teacher named Mr. Pignati that went in there everyday. And one day he pranked him. And that mortified Mr. Pignati for a very long time. Then, they pranked called him and prevaricated to him about being charity workers and how they needed people. In addition, the Pigman becomes great friends with Lorraine and John. Actually…

Words 579 - Pages 3

Essay On The Pigman

This book is about a boy named John Conlan and his friend Lorraine Jensen. In addition to, both John and Lorraine are in the same boredom class. They are both sophomores in high school. So, John's nickname was always Bathroom Bomber because he would blow up bombs in the boys bathroom. That was kind of one of John's avocations in school. However, when John wants to swear he uses @#$%. Also, he isn't the sweetest and no one of the good boys you might think he is. John and Lorraine has some major loser…

Words 674 - Pages 3

Symbolism In Susan Glaspell's Trifles

women, Mrs. Peter and Mrs. Hale, that secretly uncover evidence of Minnie Wright’s murder of her husband, John Wright. In “Trifles,” Susan Glaspell uses symbolism as a major literary element to convey how Mrs. Wright’s life was and what lead to the killing of her…

Words 656 - Pages 3

The Pigman Chapter Summaries

The novel begins with an “oath” signed by John Conlan and Lorraine Jensen, two high school sophomores, who pledge that they will report only the facts about their experiences with Mr. Pignati. When John, Lorraine, and two teen troublemakers, Norton Kelly and Dennis Kobin, are bored, they make prank phone calls. The goal of the game is to see who can stay on the phone the longest. When it is Lorraine's turn, she picks out Mr. Pignati’s phone number and pretends to be calling from a charity. After…

Words 719 - Pages 3

'Struggles In Paul Zindel's The Pigman'

characters in the story are mainly John, Lorraine and Mr. Pignati. John and Lorraine are your average teenarges that do there fair share off things that could get them in trouble. Lorraine is struggling with a failing relationship with her mother and the death of her dad. Mr. Pignati is there old neighbour on the block that has been coaping with the death of his wife and having to endure heart problems. In the story Pigman by Paul Zindel its starts off with John and Lorraine's daily life,…

Words 374 - Pages 2

Summary: The Midnight Assassination

homicide of John Hossack will always be a mysterious cold case. The person who truly killed John will never be known from the very little evidence left in the bedroom. Though with very little evidence all fingers pointed to Margaret Hossack and Mrs. Wright for the killing of her husband. Therefore, Margret and Mrs. Wright story wasn’t adding up to how her husband was killed and Margaret and Mrs. Wright was the one sentence life in prison. There are two sides to every story and only John and Margret…

Words 1052 - Pages 5