Kant (2)

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Kant (2)

• The Categorical Imperative

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Imperatives

• An imperative represents an action as something
  good to do
• Hypothetical good if you take some end as good
  (good as a means)
• Categorical good in itself

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Morality gives us categorical imperatives

• If moral law contained only hypothetical
  imperatives, then our reason to comply would
  derive from some end we were trying to
  accomplish.
• But then there would be no such thing as a good
  will
• Hence morality must give us categorical
  imperatives

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The Categorical Imperative

• General principle of practical reason underlying
  all categorical imperatives
• General idea act only on principles acceptable
  to all rational beings
• Formulation Act only on that maxim whereby you
  can at the same time will that it should become a
  universal law

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The CI Procedure

• Step 1 Propose a maxim
• Step 2 Generalize it
• Step 3 Transform it into a law of nature
• Step4 Figure out the Perturbed Social World
• Q1 Could I rationally act on my maxim in the
  PSW?
• Q2 Could I rationally choose to live in the PSW?

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Step 1 Propose a maxim

• I am to do x in circumstances y in order to bring
  about z.
• I am to lie on a loan application when I am in
  severe financial difficulty and there is no other
  way to obtain funds, in order to ease the strain
  on my finances.
• Note the proposal should be sincere
• Note the maxim should be instrumentally rational

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Step 2 Generalize the maxim

• Everyone is to do x in circumstances y in order
  to bring about z.
• Everyone is to lie on a loan application when he
  is in severe financial difficulty and there is no
  other way to obtain funds, in order to ease the
  strain on his finances

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Step 3 Transform it into a law of nature

• Everyone always does x in circumstances y in
  order to bring about z
• Everyone always lies on a loan application when
  he is in severe financial difficulty and there is
  no other way to obtain funds, in order to ease
  the strain on his finances.

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Step 4 Figure out the Perturbed Social World

• What would the world be like with the new law of
  nature?
• Note assume that in the PSW the new law is
  common knowledge
• What would the world be like if it were common
  knowledge that everyone always lied on a loan
  application when ...

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Q1 Could I rationally act on my maxim in the PSW?

• Rationally means instrumental rationality
• In the PSW, would doing x in circumstances y
  still be an effective means of achieving z?
• In the PSW, would lying on a loan application
  when I am in severe financial difficulty and
  there is no other way to obtain funds still be an
  effective means of easing the strain on my
  finances?

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Q2 Could I rationally choose to live in the PSW?

• Dont ask this question if you get a no answer to
  Q1
• Q1 contradiction in conception test
• Q2 contradiction in the will test

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Maxim of indifference to the needs of others

• In order to advance my own interests, I will not
  do anything to help others in need unless I have
  something to gain from doing so.
• X refraining from helping someone in need
• y I dont have anything to gain from helping
• z advancement of my own interests

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Contradiction in conception?

• In the PSW, would refraining from helping when I
  have nothing to gain still be an effective way of
  promoting my own interests?
• Answer seems yes

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Contradiction in the will?

• Could I rationally choose the PSW as a world to
  live in?
• Kant says no I would be choosing not to be
  helped when in need unless it was in someones
  interest to do so, and this is not rational.