As
you read the sections deontology and Kant, the following questions to guide
you. You won’t be asked to turn in your answers to these questions, but these
questions, or questions very similar to them, may appear on a quiz – and you
will be allowed to use your notes, including your answers to these questions,
on the quiz.
1. What is deontology?
2. What, according to Kant,
is the only thing that’s good without qualification? What is his argument for
this position?
3.
Does Kant think that we can best achieve happiness by being governed by reason?
4. According to Kant, a
good will is a will that’s
a. governed by reason
b. governed by emotion
c. endeavors to maximize happiness
5. What, according to Kant,
is the distinction between inclination and duty? Give an example in which you
do something out of inclination but not duty. Give an example in which you do
something out of duty but not inclination. Give an example in which you do
something out of both inclination and duty.
6. According to Kant, if
you have a good will, you’re motivated by
a. your inclination
b. duty
c. the desire to maximize happiness
7. Jane gives money to the
poor because she wants to; it makes her feel good to help people. Bill gives
money to the poor in order to get a tax break. Susan gives money to the poor
because it’s her duty to do so, even though she doesn’t really want to.
According to Kant, who’s action has the greatest moral worth?
8. According to Kant, it’s
your duty to
a. make people happy
b. make yourself happy
c. obey laws of your country
d. obey the moral law
9. What is Kant’s principle
of universalizability?
10. According to Kant,
breaking a promise violates the principle of universalizability. Explain how.
11. What does the principle
of universalizability have in common with rule utilitarianism? How does the
principle of universalizability differ from rule utilitarianism?
12. What’s an imperative?
What makes an imperative categorical? What makes an imperative hypothetical?
13. Are expressions of duty
categorical imperatives or hypothetical imperatives?
14. What’s the first
version of the categorical imperative?
15. What’s the second
version of the categorical imperative?
16. What are some problems
with Kantian ethics?