Kantian Ethics Leadership & Ethics (NAV 4402) 06 FEB 07 SSgt Thomas Buettner

“The Laws of Freedom” What does this statement mean to YOU? What does this statement mean to YOU? What does the term LAW imply? What does the term LAW imply? What does the term FREEDOM imply? What does the term FREEDOM imply?

Objectives Understand Kantian Ethics Understand Kantian Ethics Be able to apply Kantian Ethics to different scenarios/cases Be able to apply Kantian Ethics to different scenarios/cases Be able to distinguish the differences between Utilitarianism and Kantianism Be able to distinguish the differences between Utilitarianism and Kantianism

Outline 1. Case Study #1 2. Biography 3. Kant’s Philosophy 4. Terms 5. Categorical Imperative 6. Utilitarianism vs. Kantianism 7. Strengths of Kantian Ethics 8. Weaknesses of Kantian Ethics 9. Case Studies 10. Resources

Case Study Illegal Immigrant Worker Situation: Your uncle owns a construction company and pays his immigrant employees “under the table” for $2 less than minimum wage. External Info: Your uncle, in your opinion, is a great guy that has many talents and has a family of four; your dad works for him too. Question: An IRS agent asks you to see the tax records for the employees because you are the accountant and you just started working for your uncle last week. What do you do?

Biography Education Education Religion Religion Young Scholar Young Scholar The Critical Turn The Critical Turn Bachelorism and devotion to understanding Bachelorism and devotion to understanding

Kant’s Philosophy Autonomous Decisions Autonomous Decisions Deontology (Deon = Duty) Deontology (Deon = Duty) Actions in themselves are right or wrong Actions in themselves are right or wrong Ethical rules should never be broken Ethical rules should never be broken Human value Human value Duties – used to derive reason and moral decision Duties – used to derive reason and moral decision

TAKE HOME MESSAGE Kantianism Principle of Universalized Respect is: ACT ALWAYS SO THAT YOU RESPECT EVERY HUMAN BEING, YOURSELF AND OTHERS, AS A RATIONAL BEING

“The obligation to do our duty is unconditional. That is, we must do it for the sake of duty, because it is the right thing to do, not because it will profit us psychologically, or economically, not because if we don’t do it and get caught we’ll be punished. The categorical imperative was Kant’s name for this inbred, self-imposed restraint, for the command of conscience within that tells us that the only true moral act is done from a pure sense of duty.” “The obligation to do our duty is unconditional. That is, we must do it for the sake of duty, because it is the right thing to do, not because it will profit us psychologically, or economically, not because if we don’t do it and get caught we’ll be punished. The categorical imperative was Kant’s name for this inbred, self-imposed restraint, for the command of conscience within that tells us that the only true moral act is done from a pure sense of duty.” -- Admiral James Stockdale -- Admiral James Stockdale

Terms WILL and the GOOD WILL: WILL and the GOOD WILL: - A power of self-determination via rational deliberation - *** Not the same as desire or inclination (animals can not will) - The only thing conceivable that can be taken as good without qualification - It’s virtue is completely separate from any end MAXIM (intention) - A personal rule on which we make our decisions - The principle on which the actor sees himself or herself acting

Terms DUTY - Inbred, Self Imposed - The obligation required of us as rational beings - In order for an act to be morally praiseworthy, it must be done for the sake of duty -Shopkeeper - It is all about MAXIMS

Categorical Imperative Supreme Principle of Morality Supreme Principle of Morality - Motives are more important than consequences 1. Universalization 2. The Formula of the End in Itself 3. Using Persons as Mere Means 4. Treating Person as End in Themselves 5. Intentions and Results

Kant’s Duty vs. Military Duty - Kant’s Duty = Moral Code, Inbred - Military Duty= External, Greater Purpose - Both - self-discipline - commitment - Parallel?

What Does it all Mean? “GOOD WILL”: THE INTENTION/CHOICE THAT IMPELS A PERSON TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT. SELF IMPOSED, THROUGH REASON. “GOOD WILL”: THE INTENTION/CHOICE THAT IMPELS A PERSON TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT. SELF IMPOSED, THROUGH REASON. RIGHT ACTIONS: ARE THOSE ACTIONS DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH “DUTY” RIGHT ACTIONS: ARE THOSE ACTIONS DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH “DUTY” DUTY: ACTION MANDATED BY THE MORAL LAW. DOING THE THINGS YOU ARE PERMITTED BY THE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE DUTY: ACTION MANDATED BY THE MORAL LAW. DOING THE THINGS YOU ARE PERMITTED BY THE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE: A MORAL “TEST” FOR RIGHTNESS OF AN ACT CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE: A MORAL “TEST” FOR RIGHTNESS OF AN ACTFrom: Capt. Rick Rubel

Strength’s of Kantian Ethics -Duty: Commitment to stay the course regardless of consequences -Respect for Humanity: Treatment of people as ends -Formula for perfect human life?

Weakness of Kantian Ethics - Too rigid? - What is our duty? - Conflicting Duty? - Intentions and Results

KANTIAN VS. UTILITARIAN UTILITARIANISM UTILITARIANISM Greatest Happiness Principle Greatest Happiness Principle The rightness or wrongness of an act depends upon the consequences. (the END Justifies the MEANS) The rightness or wrongness of an act depends upon the consequences. (the END Justifies the MEANS) KANTIAN ETHICS KANTIAN ETHICS Supreme Principle of Morality Supreme Principle of Morality The rightness or wrongness of an act depends upon universal laws of action (the END never Justifies the MEANS) The rightness or wrongness of an act depends upon universal laws of action (the END never Justifies the MEANS) It is all about DUTY It is all about DUTY

Case Study Illegal Immigrant Worker Situation: Your uncle owns a construction company and pays his immigrant employees “under the table” for $2 less than minimum wage. External Info: Your uncle, in your opinion, is a great guy that has many talents and has a family of four; your dad works for him too. Question: An IRS agent asks you to see the tax records for the employees because you are the accountant and you just started working for your uncle last week. What do you do?

Scenario #1 You are a nurse (thank you Ojard) and a patient has come in with an acute case of inflamed appendix. The doctor says to the patient that he/she must have it removed. The doctor leaves and the patient tell you that he/she is leaving the hospital because he/she does not want to do it. What do you say to the patient? You are a nurse (thank you Ojard) and a patient has come in with an acute case of inflamed appendix. The doctor says to the patient that he/she must have it removed. The doctor leaves and the patient tell you that he/she is leaving the hospital because he/she does not want to do it. What do you say to the patient?

Have you seen/heard this before? “an individual who can be counted upon to do what we know we must and ought to do, even when there are no external forms of incentive or accountability in place”

Resources -Ethics and the Military Profession, Kantian Ethics and the Basis of Duty, Capt. Rick Rubel, Ethics and the Military Profession, A Simplified Account of Kant’s Ethics, Onora O’Neill, Lawrence M. Hinmen, PhD ( ( -Ethics in Dialogue, Rose Mary Volbrecht, PhD -Immanuel Kant, Wikipedia.com -Rush Limbaugh, Talk Radio, 2006 (just kidding)