The Ethics of

Immanuel
Kant
Chapter Nine
Philosophical
Revolution
(Transcendence to
Immanence)
 CONSEQUENCES
IDEAS HAVE
The ultimate objective of human
existence is the pursuit of happiness. 01

In the Middle Ages, the prevailing idea was that

human happiness is linked to embracing the Summum
Bonum, identified as God.
02

Descartes' "Cogito, ergo sum" initiated a shift

from transcendent goals to immanence. 03

The transition from a focus on external,

transcendent goals to internal, immanent
thinking is a crucial aspect of philosophical 04
evolution.
 The Life of
Kant
 Immanuel Kant, born on April 22, 1724, in
Konigsberg, Germany, was the fourth of nine
children from a religious family. Despite a deep
moral sense and respect for religion, he rejected
the puritanical pietism prevalent in his upbringing.

 Kant's education at Collegium Fredericianum and

the University of Konigsberg laid the foundation
for his philosophical journey, leading to a lecturing
position before finally becoming a professor of
logic and metaphysics at the age of 46 in 1770.
 The Life of
Kant
 Kant, living during the Enlightenment, was known for his uneventful
personal life—remaining unmarried and avoiding social engagements despite
his politeness. In the intellectual climate of the time, characterized by
confidence in reason and the success of experimental science, Rationalists
and Empiricists coexisted.

 Rationalists believed in a priori reason for knowledge, while Empiricists

asserted that knowledge derived from sense experience, with only
logic and mathematics seen as exceptions.
 Kant’s
Epistemology
Kast added that Kant agreed The subject is one
there is also that legislates and
another kind of that our sets the rules and
judgment  the knowledge boundaries for the
synthetic, a priori begins with emergence of de
judgment. object.
experience.
 Kant’s
Epistemology
The transcendental Kant believed Kant believes
method views the
subject as that that human that no one will
which goes beyond knowledge is be able to know
itself and the numeral
transcends the self limited in its reality or thing-
to constitute the scope. in-itself.
"conditions of
possibility" of the
object.
 The Kantian Concept of
Morality
The will of man The goodness
Man as a self -
is considered to and badness of
governing
be good when it an action
rational will
acts so that it
conform to the depend on the
conforms itself
absolute but
to what duty
intention of the
internal demands human person in
demands. That
immanent in him doing the
which ought to
as rational will. action.
be done.
The Kantian Concept of
Morality
Duty is equals to
obligation, that
which an Testing the
individual ought universalizability
to do despite the of the action.
inclination to do
otherwise
 The Categorical
Imperative
What is Categorical
Imperative?
It is a command or maxim
that enjoins a person to do
a certain action without
qualification in as much as
doing such an act is the
most universally accepted
thing to do.
 Three General Types of
Imperative
(2) imperative of prudence

(1) imperative of skill (3) imperative of morality

 The
 Kant considered the
categorical imperative Categorical
as something binding
all persons. Imperative
In order to make the categorical
imperative binding, Kant gave three
(3) formulations that must be
 It is the principle by considered if a man is to determine
whether his action is based on the
which all human CI or not.
beings ought to act
whatever the
situation will be.
 FORMULATION
Act only on that maxim whereby they can, and at the
01

THREE
same time will, that it will become a universal law.

Act as if the maxim of your action were to

become a universal law of nature. 02

Act so as to treat humanity, whether in your own person

or in that of any other, every case as an end, never as a 03
means only.
 The Categorical
Imperative
Kant considers categorical
imperative as a voice of
duty.

Kant held that this

imperative is a priori. It is
definite and changeless.
 The Kantian
Concept of a Moral
Person
 Kant considers a human person as an autonomous,
self-regulating will who is capable of making a moral
decision, contributing a lot to the understanding of
autonomy as freedom of action.

Since the human person is capable of imminent

activities, his reason and the justifications of his
decisions are his own.
The Kantian Concept of a
Moral Person

Perfect duty is
always observed Imperfect duty is
by an individual observed by an
irrespective of individual only on
time, place, or some occasions.
circumstances.
 A
Kant's Ethical
Critique
MacIntyre's Critique: Kant's Stand on Duty:
Principle: Absolute Heartlessness in Nazi Morality Rooted in Will:
Moral Standard: Ethics:
Kant asserts that moral
MacIntyre criticizes goodness is based on one's
Seeks to establish an Kant's principle as will, and moral goods take
absolute moral heartless, particularly in precedence over others.
standard accessible to the context of Nazi
rational individuals. ethics.
 A
Critique
Unaddressed Dilemma:
Conflicting Duties

Critics argue that

Kant's ethical
framework lacks
guidance in resolving
situations involving
conflicting duties.
"Kant's philosophy underscores that in
ethics, individuals are autonomous
architects of their moral choices,
guided by the imperative of reason, not
mere pawns in life's game."
Thank
You
Any Question?
 Basconcillo, Jamila Kate
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Psy – 1A
Ethics