1. Applying Kant to the issue of.. ABORTION
Which parts of Kant’s theory are relevant?
Autonomous Agents
Deontological
Good Will
Hypothetical Imperative
Summum Bonum
Categorical Imperative
3 Postulates of Practical Reason: God, immortality, freedom of soul
Rational
A priori synthetic
3 formulations:
Universalisability
Treat others as ends not means
Kingdom of Ends
Perfect & Imperfect Duties
Testing C.I.
Contradiction in Conception
Contradiction in Will
Ought from Is

2. What features will we apply from Kant’s theory?
With your partner, discuss and answer the following:
Categorical Imperatives:
What does C.I. 1st Formulation say about it?
C.I. in 2nd Formulation?
C.I. in 3rd Formulation?
Would any of the C.I.s fail on universaliation?
What would be a good will in this situation?
Who are the rational, autonomous agents in this situation?
Can it be conceived of a perfect or imperfect duty?
Are there any irreconcilable conflicts?

3. Who are the moral agents in this situation? The foetus?
C.I. DUTY FOR DUTY’S SAKE
What would a Good will say in this situation? Would it pass or fail the contradiction test? Are there any conflicts?
1st F CI
2nd F CI
3rd F CI
Who are the moral agents in this situation?
The foetus?
Does it share in the full human community, and so we cannot treat it as means, but as end?
What is the basis for having a right to life & acceptance as full human according to Kant? (foetus first brain waves at 8wks – is that rationality?)
Are babies or people with mental illness rational? If not, can we eliminate them?
The mother?
What is her moral right?
The doctors?
do they have moral rights in this situation?
For Kant, what VALUE has the highest value in the issue of abortion? The continued existence of a rational life ? Freedom from pain/inconvenience (is that a C.I. or an H.I)?
Is it right to consider this issue from a duty point of view?
is motherhood a duty?
should abortion be more of a rational or emotional decision?

4. Which Kantian issues could be applied to each?

5. Read the essay
Highlight the key aspects of Kant’s theory that you find mentioned
Reverse engineer an essay plan for this essay – you may improve on the order of the issues discussed

6. Evaluation
In what way is Kant’s theory useful in highlighting the issues involved?
In what ways is it not useful – perhaps because another approach/ different issues are more relevant?