OCR A-level Religious Studies (H573) · Ethics · Kantian ethics
Mini-Lesson
Kantian Ethics
Immanuel Kant ethics is deontological and absolutist: morality is about duty discovered by reason, not about feelings or consequences. The right act is one done from duty in line with the categorical imperative.
Work through each screen, weigh the range of scholarly views, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Press Start when you are ready.
Good will and duty
The good will and duty
Kant opens by claiming the only thing good without qualification is a good will — a will that acts from duty, for the sake of duty itself.
Acting from inclination (because you feel like it) or for reward has no moral worth; only acting because it is right does.
Morality is about doing your duty regardless of the consequences.
Ought implies can: we can only be obliged to do what we are actually able to do — which is why Kant assumes we are free.
Quick check
The only unqualified good
?According to Kant, what is the only thing good without qualification?
Two kinds of command
Categorical vs hypothetical imperatives
Kant distinguishes two kinds of command:
A hypothetical imperative is conditional: 'If you want Y, do X' (e.g. 'if you want to pass, revise'). It depends on a goal you happen to have.
A categorical imperative is unconditional: 'Do X', full stop — binding on all rational beings simply because it is right.
Morality, Kant says, consists of categorical imperatives.
Quick check
Categorical or hypothetical?
?'Do not lie, because it is your duty' is an example of which kind of command?
First formulation
Formula of universal law
The first formulation: act only on that maxim which you can at the same time will to become a universal law.
Test your maxim (the principle behind your act) by asking: could everyone do this?
If universalising it leads to a contradiction, it is forbidden. Example: 'make lying promises' cannot be universalised, because if everyone did, promising itself would collapse.
Quick check
Universal law
?What test does Kant first formulation of the categorical imperative apply?
Sort it
Categorical or hypothetical?
Tap a command, then which kind it is.
⛓️ Categorical
🎯 Hypothetical
Second formulation
Formula of humanity
The second formulation: act so that you treat humanity, whether in yourself or another, never merely as a means, but always at the same time as an end.
People have intrinsic worth and rational autonomy; we must never use them merely as tools.
The third formulation, the kingdom of ends, imagines a community in which everyone treats everyone else as an end — a moral ideal.
Summum bonum
The summum bonum and God
Kant argues the highest good, the summum bonum, is virtue rewarded with happiness in exact proportion. Yet the virtuous plainly are not always happy in this life.
Since we ought to pursue the summum bonum, it must be possible. This requires three postulates: freedom, immortality (time to achieve it) and God (to guarantee it).
So Kant makes God a rational requirement of morality, not a conclusion of proof.
Criticisms: ignores consequences and emotions; duties can conflict; the 'murderer at the door' case suggests we must not lie even to save a life; the theory can seem cold and abstract.
Match it
Key terms
Tap a term, then its meaning.
Term
Means
Quick check
A criticism of Kant
?Which is a common criticism of Kantian ethics?
Recap
The big ideas to take into the exam
Good will and duty: the only unqualified good is a good will acting from duty, not inclination or consequences
Two imperatives: hypothetical (conditional on a goal) vs categorical (unconditional, moral)
Universal law: act only on maxims you could will to be universal without contradiction
Formula of humanity: never treat people merely as a means, but always as ends; kingdom of ends
Summum bonum: virtue plus happiness requires the postulates of freedom, immortality and God
Kant duty-based ethics contrasts sharply with the utilitarianism coming next. Press Finish.
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