Philosophy 20: Ethics

Pierce College

Department of History, Philosophy, & Sociology

Lecture Notes for Kant's Duty Theory

0) Absolute vs. Relative

0) Necessary vs. Contingent

1) Happiness is contingent

1) Consequences are contingent

2) Moral Goodness is necessarily good

3) Intentions and Maxims

3) Control

4) Not inclination, not happiness, etc., but from a formulation of the Categorical Imperative

5) Act only on maxims that can be universalized without logical inconsistencies or inconsistencies of desire.

5a) Formulate Maxim

5b) Universalize

5c) Test for Logical Inconsistencies

5d) Test for Desire Consistency

5e) See the Second Formulation

6) Always treat rational creatures as ends in themselves and never merely as a means.

7) Lying E.G.

8) Improving Oneself E.G.

9) Stinginess E.G.