Christian Lee Avin B.

Evaristo BSLM
1A
ETH 101 | Mr. David Floyd Roxas June 15, 2021

Summary Outline:
Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Ethics by Immanuel Kant

A. What is Good Will?

- According to Kant, nothing can possible be conceived in the world which can be called
“good” without qualification, except a Good Will or the human desire to act morally right.
- A “Good Will” is good by virtue of its volition. It is good in itself. As rational beings, we
have a duty to express and act on “Good Will.”

B. Moral Worth
- Kant believes that the moral worth of an action does lie in the effect expended from it,
be it that result is good or bad. And any action done out of an inclination to do it holds
no moral worth either.
- Actions will only hold moral worth if they are done from duty. And the preeminent good
which we call moral can only exist in “the conception of law” itself, which is only possible
for us because we are rational beings. It should be our moral principles that directs our
will, and not our inclinations.

C. Immanuel Kant on Utilitarianism

- Utilitarianism constitutes that an action can be good if it brings the most happiness to
an individual or a community but Kant believes that any action can only be good, or
have moral worth, if they are performed without regards to its result but only if it is done
out of moral principles and the sheer good purpose of the action itself.

D. Moral Maxims
- Kant believes that actions should be consistent to duty. Can we rationally will that
other people will act as how we want to act for ourselves? Actions ought to be
consistent with duty and consistent with all other people.
E. Kant on Imperatives
- An imperative, according to Kant, is a command; an obligation.
- Categorical imperatives are actions that are necessary in and of itself without the
reference to its end; they are actions that are objectively necessary. A simple example
of this concept is to “not lie”, as the act of being untruthful cannot be universalized.
- Hypothetical imperatives are actions that are good only as a means to something else;
there is an end result involved. A simple example of this concept can be: “If you are
hungry, then eat some food.”
- “Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should
become a universal law.”

F. Humans as Ends-In-Itself and not as Means

- According to Kant, the foundation of the idea that humans are ends-in-itself is that
rational nature exists as an end in itself. He added that men necessarily conceives his
own existence as being so.
- As we all follow universal laws, we perform acts that are in and of itself good thus we
are in and of ourselves good persons. And the mere fact that we are rational beings
have value in itself.
- “So act as to treat humanity, whether in thine own person or in that of any other, in
every case as an end withal, never as means only.”