Philosophy
Episode 6. No ethics course can be complete without an exploration of one of the strangest and most important moral theories out there: Immanuel Kant's deontology (or duty-based morality). Kant argues that morality is not simply a matter of social convention, nor the expression of personal tastes or sentiments, nor the consent to enter a social covenant, nor the result of a cost-benefit analysis, nor even the submission to God's will. If morality is none of these things, you might wonder, what can it be, and how can it be defended? Well, that's one of the very many reasons why Kant is a genius...
In these two lectures, Professor Sandel explains the various elements that Kant must juggle in order to find the synthetic a priori judgment that will allow him to vindicate the objectivity or morality. Sandel also explains Kant's test for determining whether our actions have moral worth, the famous categorical imperative.
Agree or disagree with Kant, you are in for a thought-provoking treat :)
Ironically, part of the reason Kant's theory may seem so strange is that is the philosophical expression of popular and ordinary intuitions about morality, as Nietzsche concisely explains in this quote from The Gay Science:
- An Explanation Of Kant's Moral Argument
Kant?s moral argument focuses on the notion that God must exist to provide structure to the moral universe. Technically he did not believe that is was possible to prove the existence of God through rational or empirical means. It is important to outline...
- ?kant?s Moral Argument Cannot Be Defended.? Discuss.
The claim that Kant?s moral argument cannot be defended is questionable. Freud is someone who would agree with this claim. For Freud our moral awareness comes through a clash between our subconscious desires, instincts or wants (known as the id) and societal...
- Consequentialism, Deontology, And The Aretaic Turn
One debate that has dominated the attention of ethicists in the history of the modern era has been between consequentialism (the idea that the consequences of a particular action form the basis for any valid moral judgement about that action) and deontology...
- Geoffrey Warnock On Kant
Imagine if the conceptual basis of just about every single belief you ever had, not just as a layman but as a professional and conscientious intellectual, were suddenly shattered by the writings of a single man? That's exactly what happened to Immanuel...
- Shot Over Kant
What a bizarre story. Even in my day heated arguments went no furher that some pushing, shoving, and verbal abuse and that was probably not over Kant, but Sartre. The Associate Press posted... An argument in southern Russia over philosopher Immanuel...
Philosophy
Justice - What Is the Right Thing To Do?
In these two lectures, Professor Sandel explains the various elements that Kant must juggle in order to find the synthetic a priori judgment that will allow him to vindicate the objectivity or morality. Sandel also explains Kant's test for determining whether our actions have moral worth, the famous categorical imperative.
Agree or disagree with Kant, you are in for a thought-provoking treat :)
Ironically, part of the reason Kant's theory may seem so strange is that is the philosophical expression of popular and ordinary intuitions about morality, as Nietzsche concisely explains in this quote from The Gay Science:
Kant's joke.? Kant wanted to prove, in a way that would dumfound the common man, that the common man was right: that was the secret joke of this soul. He wrote against the scholars in support of popular prejudice, but for scholars and not for the people.
Episode list: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
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- An Explanation Of Kant's Moral Argument
Kant?s moral argument focuses on the notion that God must exist to provide structure to the moral universe. Technically he did not believe that is was possible to prove the existence of God through rational or empirical means. It is important to outline...
- ?kant?s Moral Argument Cannot Be Defended.? Discuss.
The claim that Kant?s moral argument cannot be defended is questionable. Freud is someone who would agree with this claim. For Freud our moral awareness comes through a clash between our subconscious desires, instincts or wants (known as the id) and societal...
- Consequentialism, Deontology, And The Aretaic Turn
One debate that has dominated the attention of ethicists in the history of the modern era has been between consequentialism (the idea that the consequences of a particular action form the basis for any valid moral judgement about that action) and deontology...
- Geoffrey Warnock On Kant
Imagine if the conceptual basis of just about every single belief you ever had, not just as a layman but as a professional and conscientious intellectual, were suddenly shattered by the writings of a single man? That's exactly what happened to Immanuel...
- Shot Over Kant
What a bizarre story. Even in my day heated arguments went no furher that some pushing, shoving, and verbal abuse and that was probably not over Kant, but Sartre. The Associate Press posted... An argument in southern Russia over philosopher Immanuel...