PHI 1102 Lecture 10: Kant

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHI 1102
• Professor: Mark Brown

Document Summary

Deontological (kant) versus consequential (utilitarianism) moral theories: Deontological ethical theory is usually contrasted from the utilitarianism ethical theory. Consequential: puts forth the idea that peoples actions are right or wrong because of their consequences or results. Consequential ethics is forward thinking, looking into the future, of what could happen. Deontological: the consequence of an action are morally irrelevant- We have a duty or obligation to do good in the present. Law for kant is a general rule concerning conduct. Dutiful individual do the right thing, not because of what they want to do but it is what the moral law requires of us. We do something right simply because it is right. Humans according to kant, are free to take the morally right course of action. Humans are also rational and so we are judged based on how reasonable or unreasonable we are. Reason and logic are intimately related to morality.