Kant

What is maxim?

A personal rule for action, every time I make a choice I am applying a maxim

Explain what Kant means on p.402 when he says "Since I have robbed the will of every inducement that might arise for it as a consequence of obeying any particular law, nothing is left but the conformity of actions to universal law as such"

According to Kant I may not make a promise with the intention of not keeping it, even when hard pressed. Every time I make a choice I use maxim, which are aimed at accomplishing something. However this is not appropriate maxim for good since its not based on consequences. Universal maxim is something we all should follow just as long as I live according to maxim

What is the natural law formulation of the categorical imperative?

Act as if the maxim of your action were to become through your will

What end do we all have?

Actual in all beings

Why cant even Jesus Christ serve as a model for moral action?

Because one of the gospel must first be compared with our ideal of moral perfection before he is recognized as such. Even Jesus said of himself "Why do you call me (whom you see) good? None is good (the archetype of the good) except God only (whom you do not see)

Explain why Kant thinks that the reason lying is wrong is not because it is not prudent?

Because the good will is not good based upon what it accomplishes... so adopting the maxim "I will tell the truth" because there is good consequence is not morally right

What is the relationship between the objective principle of reason and the subjective will?

Both can be determined by the concept of good

What sort of law must the will desire if the motivation is to be strictly free of consequences?

Damned if I do and Damned if I don't ex: being truthful from duty is different than being truthful due to fear of consequences. If motivation is free of consequences then choose what is lawful and exercise prudence

Why does Kant say that his view makes sense of the scriptural commandment to love one's neighbor and one's enemy?

Doing something for someone based on pathological emotion is not priasiable. If you treat everyone with respect because their people deserving respect then it is acting morally. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

What is the true function of reason?

For Kant is to create a will that is good. Production of a will not as a means to something else

Why does kant claim that the only thing good without qualification is a good will?

Good will is a good within itself because it is the only thing that ensures its good without qualification. Things are only good if they are possessed by good people

What are the two different kinds of imperatives?

Hypothetically and Categorical

What is the only thing good without qualification?

Is a good will. Good will needs nothing added to it to ensure its goodness

Why cant we use experience to discover moral rules?

It is clear we give us occasion to infer even possibility of such apodictic laws

Kant says that to help others where one can is a duty. What problem does he see with this?

It is one's duty to help others, the problem is motivation. Just because you do something for someone doesn't mean it has moral worth

Why are moderation, self-control, and sober reflection not unconditionally good?

It is only to good will to act rightly(the good will) that is unconditionally good.

What is required in order for an act to have moral worth?

It must be the right act done for the right reason

In order to clearly illuminate the concept of duty, which kind of acts does Kant focus upon?

Kant focus on action what the person is motivated by duty, and not simply acting in accordance with duty

How is a good will good?

Kant says that the good will is good based upon what it wills and not upon what it can accomplish. The good will is good because it wills(chooses rightly)

Why is the purpose of the rational will not happiness?

Kant thinks our reasoning is bad at bringing us to happiness, our inclination is better at bringing happiness instead

Kant says that to preserve one's life is a duty. What problem does he see with this?

People preserve their life because of inclination, not duty, that would make preserving your life immoral according to Kant. Desires are fickle and not under my control so rather then being a slave to desires, I should choose to live because its right, not just because I do or don't desire it

Explain the example of the shop keeper?

Shop keeper is to treat everyone fairly, which we think is good, but it is not. He is doing it to keep up with his reputation not treating people fairly simply for the means of being fair

Why would the good will be good even if it were ineffectual?

Since the good will is good based upon what it wills then it doesn't matter whether the will is able to accomplish anything. Kant says its usefulness or fruitlessness can neither add to nor subtract from this value.

What happens when reason is perfect and perfectly controls the will?

Then in a being of this kind the action which are recognized to be subjectively necessary are also subjectively necessary to be good

What does Kant mean when he says "Action which are recognized to be objectively necessary are subjectively contingent?

Then the will is then a power to choose only that which reason independently inclination recognize to be particularly necessary

What is the universal law formulation of the categorical imperative?

There is only one categorical imperative and it is this act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should be a universal law

Why can the moral law not be to maximize happiness?

They must be borrowed from the experience, and it must be absolute whole idea

What is the worst thing we can do for morality?

To ascribe to it purposes defined by the nature of existence since we cannot know the objective nature of the universe, we can only take morals to be what we think they ought to be we must believe in god "as if god existed"

What does it mean to act with reverence for law?

To do something simply because its your duty. Good will is good without qualification so the appropriate motivation is duty

What does it mean to act on purely formal, a priori, principle of volition?

To give, oneself a maxim that is not based on consequences. The good is based on what it wills

What tends to happen when a rational person devotes herself to using her reason to achieve happiness?

When a rational person uses reason to achieve happiness Kant says they get further away from happiness Kant believes in natural instinct

What does Kant mean when he says that all moral concepts must be a priori?

an indeed in the most highly speculative they can be abstracted from empirical and therefore merely in contingent