Chapter 10 Deontology

If we know something a priori, it is knowledge we can acquire through experience or observation. True False

False FEEDBACK: A priori is a term which is used to describe knowledge that can be acquired without experience or observation. The Categorical Imperative, p. 169.

Which of the following is an example of a categorical imperative, according to Kant's definition? If you want to gain weight, eat more food. If you want to kill someone, give them poison. If you want to act for the sake of duty, don't tell lies. If you don't want to get in trouble, don't steal

If you want to act for the sake of duty, don't tell lies. FEEDBACK: The other answers are all hypothetical imperatives, in that they are conditional. The imperative is one you should follow, if you would like to achieve certain goals. However, the answer choice "If you want to act for the sake of duty, don't tell lies." is not conditional on any specific goal, even if the sentence has that form. For Kant, all human beings ought to act for the sake of duty, so this can be read as an unconditional, or a categorical, imperative. Hypothetical and Categorical Imperatives, pp. 170-71.

What is one reason that suicide is impermissible, in Kant's view?

It violates a perfect duty to oneself.

What is the doctrine of volenti non fit injuria? Where there is reason, there is morality. Where there is consent, there is no injury. Where there is suffering, there is diminished utility. Where there is duty, there is obligation to follow.

Where there is consent, there is no injury. FEEDBACK: This principle is invoked in the discussion of suicide because in many contexts, we consider the existence of consent to block potential claims of harm. However, if I consent to having you kill me, that is not considered a legitimate application of this doctrine. Similarly, one might think that just because they consent to kill themselves, that does not make it morally permissible. Suicide, p. 176.

For Kant, the only actions that have genuine moral worth are done from what? duty pleasure inclination desire

duty FEEDBACK: Motivation is very important when adjudicating moral worth, in Kant's view. If someone does good simply because they really enjoy doing so, then, their actions are not morally valuable. In order to have true moral worth, actions must be performed for the sake of duty. The Good Will, p. 168.

One important distinction between perfect and imperfect duties from a Kantian perspective is that the breach of a perfect duty could become a universal law, though it would be against our rational nature. True False

false FEEDBACK: A perfect duty is one that is unconditional; its breach could never be universalized, for Kant. However, while the breach of an imperfect duty could in principle be universalized, such a universalization would contradict human rational nature. Kant's Examples, p. 174.

For Kant, the only thing that has unconditional instrumental value is a good will. rue False

false FEEDBACK: Kant suggests that a good will is the only thing with unconditional intrinsic value; namely, a good will is the only thing that is good for its own sake, without limitation. The Good Will, p. 167.

Which of the following is an example of a morally wrong action offered by Kant? bragging about one's talents pursuing one's self-interest making false promises failing to reward others who help you

making false promises FEEDBACK: In Kant's discussion, making false promises is morally wrong because it is not possible to universalize a maxim permitting false promises. False Promising, Neglecting Your Talents, and Failing to Help, p. 177.

Kant's deontology is taken to have influenced the development of which of the following philosophical theories? act utilitarianism moral nihilism virtue ethics rule utilitarianism

rule utilitarianism FEEDBACK: Rule utilitarianism takes from deontology the view that morality is best governed by rules or laws. While Kant himself would reject utilitarian thinking, the idea that observing a rule or law instead of looking at actions in isolation is consistent with a deontological view. The Supreme Moral Principle, p. 163.

What is the name of Kant's supreme moral principle? the principle of utility the categorical imperative the golden rule the imperative of the mean

the categorical imperative FEEDBACK: The categorical imperative makes up the backbone of Kant's ethical theory. The categorical imperative suggests that one should act such that their actions could be taken to be a universal law. Summary of Kant's Ethics, p. 165.