Up@dawn 2.0

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Kant and Morality

H1
I like to believe that humans are, for the most part, inherently good. If given the choice of good or evil, most would choose to follow the good. However, “good” is subjective and depends on one’s personal experiences and environment. So what makes right actions right?
            Kant judges morality on what he considers to be widely shared and accepted. He believed that individuals’ rational will forced them to follow these moral principles (categorical imperative). Whether an action is right or wrong depends on the duty it fulfills rather than the consequences it might bring about. Much of what Kant views as moral is abstract, because it relies heavily on intention.

            I personally like the generality of Kant’s moral views. What is right to one person may not be right to another. I think there are things that most everyone would agree are good (joy, happiness, human enlightenment) and wrong (pain, sadness, human destruction) – but these things are still subjective. What we consider as right or wrong relies heavily on the situation at hand and the history behind it. It is important for us to recognize this when dealing with moral issues, and I feel that this what Kant was aiming for in his moral philosophy.

3 comments:

  1. (H3) Based off of some of Kants arguments, such as his famous opposition to lying in all cases, I think he actually meant for his maxim to be applied literally. if I am understanding you right though I think I am agreeing with you in saying that may be the whole point. If I ask myself the question "If I do X, should everyone (Which means everywhere and in every situation if you think about it) also be subject to this?" Now if you think about it that way. There are very few things to which you could say yes, X is right no questions asked.

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  2. I agree with you. When we are put to the test as to choose between good or bad, most choose good. Although in this case, it is fairly obvious which is good and which is bad and that the good is good for the majority.

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  3. The battle between subjectivity and objectivity rises over and over again in this class. Things that are good must be objective, but can't view things other than subjectively, and so on. I believe that what you have said on Kant's definition of this right and wrong line is a great point for us to determine this on. While it is still incredibly debatable in hundreds of ways, I think this is a great start.

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