Kants Formalism Theory Essay - 715 Words

Kants Formalism Theory nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; The theories of Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, have had an impact on the formulation and shaping of ethics today. Immanuel Kant graced this earth from 1724 to 1804. During his eighty year life time, he formulated many interesting ideas regarding ethical conduct and motivation. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Kant is strictly a non-consequentialist philosopher, which means that he believes that a persons choices should have nothing to do with the desired outcome, but instead mankind simply goes about doing good because it is morally correct. Kant theorizes that moral reasoning is not based on factual knowledge and that reason by itself can reveal the basic principles of morality.†¦show more content†¦In order to define and develop ones sense of duty, Kant developed the next component of his theory: the categorical imperative. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In essence, the categorical imperative states that what is fair to one must be fair to all. As worded by William H. Shaw, quot;an act is morally right if and only if we can will it to become a universal law of conduct.quot; Kant, who relied heavily on logic, insists that moral rules must by categorical rather than hypothetical. Hypothetical laws take on the quot;if....thenquot; form of action. If you want to reach a specific goal, then you will accomplish these tasks. On the other hand, categorical laws apply to everyone. Regardless of goals or desired outcome, the categorical imperative commands unconditionally. (Shaw, 67) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Kant developed another idea which exemplifies that of the categorical imperative. The principle of universal acceptability states that as rational, moral beings, individuals are bound by logic and its demands. Because logic is consistent, individuals all live by the same moral law. in order to determine whether a rule is a quot; moral law, we can thus ask if the rule commands would be acceptable to all rational beings acting rationally.quot; (Shaw, 67) Kants view of universal acceptability appears to be intertwined with echoes of the quot;golden rule.quot;Show MoreRelatedEssay about Kants Formalism Theory716 Words   |  3 PagesKants Formalism Theory The theories of Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, have had an impact on the formulation and shaping of ethics today. Immanuel Kant graced this earth from 1724 to 1804. During his eighty year life time, he formulated many interesting ideas regarding ethical conduct and motivation. Kant is strictly a non-consequentialist philosopher, which means that he believes that a persons choices should have nothing to do with the desired outcome, but instead mankind simplyRead MoreMorality via Kant and Hegel1712 Words   |  7 Pagesobjectively what one ought to do, or do our moral intuitions rest solely on subjective, arbitrary grounds? With the lure of divine command theory fading from the Enlightenment and onwards, modern moral philosophy can be seen as an attempt to uncover either the criterion or its nonexistence. An endeavor in which few can be said to have been as influential as Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) and his most trenchant critic, G.W.F. Hegel (1770-1831). Kant’s deontological attempt to unearth this criterion rests onRead MoreKant s Categorical Imperative For Moral Knowledge1500 Words   |  6 Pagesshould be discarded, as a moral obligation is an obligation for all. 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