Exam 6: Kantian Ethics

Kant's first formulation of the categorical imperative requires assessing the

How does Kant describe the prudent shopkeeper?

Which does Kant think has more moral worth: grudgingly giving money to charity because it is the right thing to do or happily giving money to charity because it makes you happy to help others?

What does Kant mean by "acting from duty," and how does it differ from acting merely in accordance with duty? Do you agree with Kant that actions have moral worth only if done from duty? Why or why not?

What does it mean to call something a categorical imperative? How do categorical imperatives differ from hypothetical imperatives? Which does Kant think are essential to morality? Do you agree with him about this? Why or why not?

Compare and contrast Kant's principle of humanity with his principle of universalizability. Are there any cases where the two principles render conflicting verdicts about the moral status of an action? If so, do you think one of the principles could be revised to make them consistent? If not, why do you think that the principles will always agree?

Case Study Imagine that Jesse has promised a friend that he will pick her up from the airport when she arrives in town. Her flight is arriving soon, and Jesse is getting ready to leave to pick her up when he suddenly gets a phone call about an exciting job opportunity. Jesse has been looking for a new job for some time and this one would be particularly good for him in a variety of ways. However, there's a catch-the job needs to be filled right away, so if he cannot come in right now and interview for it, it will go to someone else. Jesse knows it is strongly in his interest for him to go to the interview but also that doing so would mean breaking a promise. He also knows that whether he keeps his promise makes a relatively minor difference in his friend's life compared to the difference in his life is he gets the job. -What would Kant say Jesse should do in such a case and why? Do you agree with this answer? Why or why not?