Name : Kimberly U.

Asdulo

Year and Section: BSENTREP 2-D

Ethics

Module No.4

Deontological Ethics: Immanuel Kant

Learning Assessment

1.Why is autonomous reason the only acceptable foundation of ethics for Kant?

In his practical philosophy,Kant argues that human reason is an autonomous source of principles of
conduct, immune from the blandishments of sensual inclination in both its determinations of value
and its decisions to act, and indeed that human autonomy is the highest value and the limiting
condition of all other values.

2.What is the importance of the Kantian shift from preoccupation with the external good to stress the
internal goodwill?

Kant places a strong emphasis on the will of the individual performing the moral action. In fact, for
Kant, the concept of “Good Will” is at the center of all ethical action – we must will to do good. This
concept of the Good Will, as expressed in the desire to perform our moral duty, is the proper motive
for every morally acceptable action. For Kant, the consequences of the action are not to be
considered at all. We must act only from the motivation to satisfy our moral duty. It is this Good Will
that determines an act’s moral worth.

3.How does doing one's moral duty become autonomous and at the same time universalization in the
Kantian principle of man as end in himself/herself?

Kant calls "duty" the obligation that follows what reason deems as the action which is most worthy of
our humanity. This duty is founded on human reason, that is, it passes through the sorting out made
by our autonomous and discursive reason. Our duty is that which the reason determines as our
obligation. Inasmuch as duty is the doable obligation for the human person, it is not a duty if it is
impossible for man to do it. Duty, therefore, presupposes our ability for otherwise it is only a bother
to the human person. Duty, therefore, is a doable good for the human will. Duty, while founded on
human reason for determination, is at the very same time originating from the goodwill as a voluntary
action that is doable for the human being.Duty or obligation is the motivation for reason and goodwill
of the human person. If one asks why he/she had to do what he/she ought to do, the answer can only
be because it is his/her duty.

4.What is the reasonable relationship between religion and ethics for kant?
 Immanuel Kant fully established the independence of his ethics from religion via the recognition of
reason as the foundation, goodwill as the source, and duty as the motivation of what obliges the
human person.A "religion is not true to itself," according to Kant, if it goes against what man "ought
to do" as defined by his/her autonomous reason and goodwill that reaches for universalizability. Only
false religion or cult falls unreasonably to superstition and does away with duty as an obligation for
his/her goodwill. It is, therefore, such Kantian ethics that is foundational for religion and not vice
versa.Kant, however, is not against religion. For him the value of religion rests on its reality as an
openness to "what one can hope for." Religion for Kant is the very openness of ethics to the
complementary strength that is provided by hope.

5. Explain hope as the tension between gift and task for kantian philosophy?

Hope itself plays a significant role in moral philosophy because as per Immanuel Kant, hope creates
tension for individuals as they seek for connection between virtue (morality or moral task) and
happiness (gift) for their highest good in life but they don't get because there is noting mentioned
about the connection.