Discussion
Project Applying
Kant's Categorical Imperative
Part I: Application
Return to your
hypothetical
case from the ‘Cases for Discussion” handout.
Notice that in each case there is some particular action that the person
is thinking of doing or wondering whether to do. For example, in case #1 the woman is thinking
about getting an abortion; in case #3 the man is wondering whether he
should tell the woman what he has learned; and so on. Take that action as the focus for answering
the following questions.
1.
How might you best formulate the rule (or maxim) that the person is
proposing to follow? It is probably best
to try to fit your maxim to the following schema: “Whenever
[fill in morally relevant features of the situation here] , I will always [put description of the action to be taken
here] .” (See Kant’s second example on page 32 for an
example of a maxim that has this form.)
You will need to decide how many of the details of the case need to be
included in order to get it into proper ethical focus.
2.
Does this rule pass the test set up by Kant's Categorical
Imperative? That is, is it a rule which
one can consistently will to be a universal law? Or, in other words, is it a rule which one
can reasonably want everyone to follow whenever they are faced with similar
circumstances? (If not, explain why
not.) Remember that there are two ways
that a maxim can fail the test: it can be literally inconceivable or impossible
that everyone would follow the maxim
(Kant’s lying example); or it can be conceivable but not 'willable',
i.e., not rationally desirable, because it would conflict with something else I
necessarily want (Kant’s refusing to ever help others example).
3.
What rule (or maxim) would they be following if they decided not
do what they are thinking about doing?
4.
Does that rule pass the test of the Categorical Imperative? (If not, explain why not.)
5.
Considering your answers to questions 2 and 4, is the proposed action
forbidden, permissible or required, from a Kantian point of view?
(An action is forbidden, if its
maxim fails the test. If it passes the
test, then the action is permissible.
An action is required when the maxim which tells you not
to do it fails the test.)
Part II: Evaluating the Theory
1.
Did Kant’s theory enable you to come up with a definite answer to the
ethical difficulty posed by the case you were considering? (Were you able to answer the questions and to
do so in a way that did not seem arbitrary or artificial?)
2.
If so, did the answer suggested by the theory seem to you to be a sound
one? Did it square with your own
intuitions about the case?
3.
Does it seem to you as if there are important aspects of your case that
Kant’s theory fails to address?