PHILOS 2D03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Deontological Ethics, Immanuel Kant, Categorical Imperative
12 Dec 2018
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3 distinct tests (formulations of the categorical imperative)- when faced with moral dilemma, come up with the plan and see if it passes 3 tests: 1 (first formulation, a. Supposed to tell us whether our plan of action that a reasonable person would do. Why do you want to do it: we must identify the act that we intend to do, our reason for doing it, b. Universalize maxim and consider its coherence: ask whether it would make sense to follow our maxim in a world where everybody already treated it like it were a universal rule. Imagine a world where everyone did the maxim: a reasonable plan of action to achieve a purpose. Would it fulfill the purpose: d. assess. If your maxim still makes sense once it is universalized then you can act accordingly. Human are blessed with the power of reason.
