Kant's ethical theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Kants ethical theory - Essay ExampleImmanuel Kant is the founder of Critical Philosophy, and he is as well the Father of Modern Philosophy. By applying the Critical Method to the study of Pure Reason, Practical Reason and Judgement, Kant endeavored himself to the association of Man. His findings provide a wide spectrum of implications in order to establish the frameworks of Absolute Empiricism,Absolute Rationalism and Absolute noble-mindedness In the realm of every ethical theory, there argon some standpoints that advise be taken, so an ethical system could be Deontological, Teleological, Consequentialist, Relativism/Subjectivism, and Virtue Based Theories. Kants ethical theory is purely ground on duty, so it is deontological. The uniqueness and originality of his ethical theory springs from the application of the concept of bland Imperatives (unconditional) instead of vatical Imperatives (condicional) as the philosophers before Kant used to build their ethical theories, espec ially in the case of Thomas Aquinas. The Categorical Imperatives demand to be universalizable in order to be accepted as legitimate guidelines for action. The concepts of autonomy and heteronomy along with the principle of treating human beings as ends in themselves, not as means, give rise to valid conclusions close respect for human dignity, unaffectionatedom in every ethical choice, and the eventual state of peace that can be accomplished with such an ethical system. It lacks the presence of Unconditional Love as Kant tried by all means not to deal with the conflicts that arise out of building an ethical theory found on emotions. But Unconditional Love is much more than an emotion as it can be considered to be a Categorical Principle. 2. Defining how Kant distinguishes between autonomy and heteronomy. Autonomy is the freedom of choice without any outside(a) determination, and Kant established that it is necessary for a human act to be considered moral in itself. Heteronomy i s the external determination of human acts (for example, God or a motivation based on any benevolent of reward or punishement) so heteronomy interferes with the freedom of choice of the individual taking away from the agent the subject of using his/her reason as a whole human being according to the Law of constitution to act in a moral way. The implications of this standpoint about worship are summed up as followsIf our actions are pre-determined and we merely bounce around like snooker-balls, we cannot be described as free and morality doesnt apply to us. Kant could not prove that we are free - rather, he presumed that we could act morally, and for this to be the case we moldiness be free. He also thought that it followed that there must be a God and manner after death, otherwise morality would make no sense. (RSRevision.Com, 2006).3. Explaining Kants formulation of the categorical shrill. A categorical imperative is an unconditional motivation to act morally as a free agent. This concept is very serviceable from a practical viewpoint since actions guided by a categorical imperative are free from speculations or dogmatic interpretations. That way our actions are morally correct, and they are good in themselves since they are valid for everybody according to the universalization process explained by Kant. Those actions spring from the good will of man since the main motivation is a strong sense of duty. Some of the formulations of the categorical imperative are the followingAct only on that maxim (intention) whereby at the same time you can will that it shall become a universal justice ()Always act to treat humanity, whether in yourself or in others, as an end in itself, neer merely as a means. (Philosopher.Org, no date).4. Explaining how adherence to the categorical imperative provides for autonomous ethical choice.Whenever we are faced with conflictive choices the categorical i