- Intro: What was the overall theme for the unit? What will you cover in this summary?
- Report on your progress: Kantian ethics is usually the hardest part of the course. How did you experience
go. Did the other authors help you understand Kant? Do you realize they are all female authors apart from
Kant, although perhaps this shouldn’t matter? Any concerns going forward? - Kant: Looking back at our past units, our discussion of moral theory has centered on virtue theory based on
human nature and flourishing, but with Kant we turn to an account of morality based on our rational natures. - Herman: In Kant’s first essay a question of interpretation arises, namely whether the only opportunity for
earning moral worth is when one’s inclinations are opposed to duty and duty is done despite this. Herman
suggests a way of avoiding this interpretation. - O’Neill: Our next Kant commentator O’Neill provides an explanation for some key points made in Kant’s
second section, including what is a maxim, what kinds of consistency are involved in the categorical test, and
how are meritorious duties explained (by rules of rational intending). - Foot: Our last Kant commentator O’Neill also focuses on the material from Kant’s second essay asking what
is the justification for Kant’s saying duty is necessary and dignifying.
7 Conclusion: Recap your summary, discuss any overall impact the material from this unit has had on you, and
indicate any changes you want to make in your learning strategies going forward.
OPTIONAL STUDY QUESTIONS
Kant: The good will is good through what it accomplishes in action.
Hint: No, it is good in itself, as Kant puts it: The will good when it chooses duty for duty’s sake and not for any
ulterior purpose.
O’Neill: The rules of rational intending are intended to explain how the ends-in-themselves formula of the
categorical imperative determines meritorious duties.
Hint: No O’Neill uses these rules to explain how the universal law formula of the categorical imperative
determines meritorious duties. The ends formula doesn’t reference maxims.
Foot: Duty should be construed in the form of categorical imperatives.
Hint: No, this is Kant’s view but she argues for duties being hypothetical imperatives
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