Term
| what does it mean if a principle is to be known a priori or a posteriori? what does the distinction between the two kinds regard (for K)? |
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Definition
a priori: independent of experience- based on pure reason.
a posteriori: based on experience.
-distinction regards knowledge (it's an epistemological distinction) |
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Term
| what does it mean if a proposition is synthetic or analytic? what does the distinction between the two kinds regard (for K)? |
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Definition
synthetic proposition= a proposition whose predicate concept is not contained in its subject concept- predicate contains an addition of knowledge regarding the subject.
analytic proposition= a proposition whose predicate concept is contained in its subject concept- a circular, self-defining, tautological proposition.
- distinction regards the proposition (it's a logical distinction) |
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Term
| Kant aims to articulate and establish a synthetic principle that is knowable a priori. what does that mean? |
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Definition
a synthetic proposition that is knowable a priori is a proposition that is known independent of experience but add knowledge to the subject matter.
Kant bases his ethics on these kinds of propositions: In ethics, it's propositions of Pure Practical Reason:
1. pure- because it is based on reason and reason alone (= a priori).
2. practical- because it concerns ethics = actions regarding morality.
3. reason- because reason is the faculty that is responsible for a good will which is the condition of morality. |
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Term
| what is the supreme good/good without qualification? which faculty is responsible to fulfill the purpose fo this supreme good (for K)? |
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Definition
supreme good: good will
faculty responsible: reason |
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Term
| what is the subjective and what is the objective motivating principle of volition of our actions (for K)? |
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Definition
subjective motivating principle: maxim
objective motivating principle: practical/moral law |
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Term
| what does duty mean? what is it's relationship to reason, will, and the moral law? how does the concept of respect fit into the picture (for K)? |
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Definition
duty= the specific obligations of the will.
reason commands the will through the moral law in order for it to become good will. Following the command of reason is the obligation of will = it is duty = duty is respect for the moral law. |
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Term
| how does an action from duty differ from an action done merely in conformity with duty but from inclination (for K)? |
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Definition
actions out of duty and duty alone are moral.
actions done in conformity with duty suggest involvement of inclination- when inclinations are involved, the action has no moral worth.
the moral worth of an action according to Kant lies in the motivation of the action- an action has moral worth only if it's motivation is duty and duty alone. |
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Term
| name and define the two types of imperatives (and their subtypes if any) that Kant distinguishes |
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Definition
1. hypothetical imperative (done as means to attain certain end; subjectively incline; cannot be known beforehand)
a. imperative of skill
b. imperative of reason
2. categorical imperative (good in itself; supreme principle of acting according to universal moral law; exists a priori in form)
a. imperative of morality |
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Term
| how many categorical imperatives does Kant recognize? how do all the concrete imperatives of duty relate? |
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Definition
there is only ONE categorical imperative, however there are 3 (universal law of nature, humanity, autonomy) or 4 (kingdom of ends) formulae.
all the concrete imperatives of duty can be deduced from the categorical imperative by entering the subjective maxim into the form of the CI and checking it's coherence. If a maxim is coherent with the CI it represents the concrete imperative of duty= motivation of an action out of duty and duty alone. |
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Term
| name the different formulae of the categorical imperative. what are the new aspects that each of them highlights? |
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Definition
1. universal law of nature formula: maxim to become a universal law of nature.
2. humanity formula: humans as ends, not means
3. autonomy formula: will as a legislative will
4. kingdom of ends formula: brings the other formulae together- the rational being as a member or sovereign of the kingdom of ends. |
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Term
| what is dignity? how does Kant connect will to the 'intrinsic worth' and dignity of a person? How does it relate to morality? |
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Definition
-whatever has value can be replaced by something else which is equivalent; whatever is above all value, and therefore admits of no equivalent, has a dignity.
- dignity refers to the inner worth of a rational human being- since the human being is an end in itself, never as a means only.
- the dignity of humanity consists in it's capacity of being universally legislative, though with the condition that it is itself subject to this same legislation.
- autonomy is the basis of the dignity of human and of every rational nature and is thus the supreme principle of morality. |
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Term
| what is the supreme principle and necessary condition of morality? why? (for K) |
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Definition
the autonomy of the will is the supreme principle of morality and The Heteronomy of the will is the source of all spurious principles of morality.
autonomy as the legislative will is the foundation of dignity and is thus the supreme principle of morality. |
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Term
| (for K) moral laws apply to... |
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Definition
| ... to all rational beings in all places at all times. |
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Term
| (for K) actions are moral when... |
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Definition
| ... they are undertaken for the sake of duty alone. |
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Term
| (for K) what aspect does the universal law of nature formula of the CI highlight? |
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Definition
| our maxim to be a universal law of nature |
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Term
| (for K) what aspect does the humanity formula of the CI highlight? |
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Definition
| rational beings as ends in themselves |
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Term
| (for K) what aspect does the autonomy formula of the CI highlight? |
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Definition
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Term
| (for K) what aspect does the kingdom of ends formula of the categorical imperative highlight? |
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Definition
| being a member or sovereign in the kingdom of ends |
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Term
| (for K) maxims of a moral will DO NOT have... |
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Definition
| ... a subjective inclination of will. |
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Term
| (for K) what would count as "heteronomy"? |
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Definition
| basing one's action on an inclination |
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Term
| (for K) what is the supreme principle of morality? |
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Definition
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Term
| true or false (for K): synthetic propositions a prior synthesize reason and experience |
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Definition
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Term
| true or false (for K): hypothetical imperatives are analytic propositions of the form: if... then... |
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Definition
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Term
| true or false (for K): the categorical imperative is an analytic a priori proposition. |
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Definition
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Term
| true or false (for K): the universal law of nature formula of the categorical imperative is: "act as if the maxim of thy action were to become by thy will a universal law of nature" |
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Definition
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Term
| true or false (for K): the humanity formula of the CI is "so act as to treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of any other, in every case as an end, never as means only" |
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Definition
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Term
| true or false (for K): whatever has dignity can be replaced by something else which is equivalent; whatever, is above all dignity, and therefore admits of no equivalent, has a value. |
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Definition
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Term
| true or false (for K): heteronomy is the basis of the dignity of human and of every rational nature and is thus the supreme principle of morality. |
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Definition
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Term
| true or false (for K): the dignity of humanity consists in it's capacity of being universally legislative, though with the condition that it is itself subject to this same legislation |
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Definition
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Term
| true or false (for K): the autonomy formula of the CI is: "everything ought to be done from maxims of one's will regarded as a will which could at the same time will that it should itself give universal laws" |
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Definition
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Term
| true or false (for K): to have a legislative will means, that the will is not subject simply to the law, but so subject that it must be regarded as itself giving the law and, on this ground only, subject to the law (of which it can regard itself as the author) |
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Definition
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Term
| true or false (for K): the kingdom of ends formula of the CI is: "act according to the maxims of a member of a merely possible kingdom of ends legislating in it universally" |
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Definition
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Term
| true or false (for K): morality, is the relation of actions to the relation of actions will, that is, to the autonomy of potential universal legislation by its maxims. |
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Definition
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Term
| true or false (for K): neither fear nor inclination, but simply respect for the law, is the spring which can give actions a moral worth. |
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Definition
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Term
| true or false (for K): the autonomy of the will is the supreme principle of morality and the Heteronomy of the will is the source of all spurious principles of morality. |
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Definition
| true or false (for K): neither fear nor inclination, but simply respect for the law, is the spring which can give actions a moral worth. |
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Term
| true or false (for K): the principle of autonomy is: "always so to choose that the same volition shall comprehend the maxims of our choice as a universal law" |
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Definition
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