What are the strengths of Kants moral theory?

by yazzertron (student)

AS and A Level Religious Studies & Philosophy

Part A - What are the strengths of Kant’s moral theory? (25)

Kant’s theory is an absolute based on a priori which means a fixed set of beliefs known without the need for human experience. This was compacted into three categorical imperatives. As he was alive during an age of enlightenment religion was being questioned and therefore Kant’s moral theory was more accepted.

A strength of Kant’s theory is that it is an absolute set of morals. The theory is a priori because he believed humans can use reason in order to differentiate between right and wrong. Kant constructed an equation in which he believed it defined a moral action. This was “duty + goodwill = moral action. This can be viewed as a strength in Kant’s theory because it means moral actions can’t be subjective; they are either right or wrong because “it is incoherent to believe justice can mean one thing in a country and something different in another”.

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Furthermore he stated there were two realms; the phenomenal and noumenal. These separate the rational and irrational thinkers. Angels occupy the noumenal realm because they are unchanging with no emotional entanglements to prevent them performing their duties. For example if a building were burning down a human may priories the lives of friends and family over the lives of the others due to emotional attachment even though Kant would say their duty is to protect as many people as possible. The phenomenal realm is occupied by animals and humans. However whilst humans are physically in the phenomenal realm there mental state is closer to the noumenal realm because humans are not controlled by desires, unlike animals, and think rationally. Through this humans have been recognised as different from animals as we have the ability to control desires and therefore make decisions using reason to deduce what is right and wrong.

There are a variety of strengths in the categorical imperative. The first is in the concept of the universal law. This is absolute so nothing is subjective which is therefore easy to understand and makes what is right and wrong defined. A universal law is also a simple idea; it means that an action must be applicable anywhere for anyone. So Kant argued lying is wrong. This is because humans relationships require trust otherwise society would fall apart. Suicide is a good example of the universal law because if you imagined that every time a human experienced depression they were to kill themself then the world would be a horrible place because death would be frequent but then suicide would become an everyday thing and humans would become desensitised to death and we would begin to loose sanctity of life.

The second categorical imperative “the principle of humanity as an ends not as a means” is good because of its consideration for the minorities. Unlike Jeremy Bentham whose theory was based on “the greatest good for the greatest number” Kant believes humans can’t use each other in order to gain. For example someone couldn’t sell another human as a slave in order to get money as this also reduces human dignity as he argues all humans are “under the same moral law” so the president of the united states and a homeless man are equal because they are both their own moral agent. Because of this is also means minorities don’t suffer to benefit the larger majorities because this goes against our moral laws.

The final categorical imperative, the universal kingdom of ends presents strengths. It is about the realization of humans having the same aims. If we all have the same moral standings then we have the ability to create a society with this and thus become autonomous individuals (the freedom to choose). This means society would be one in which everyone has agreed on the maxims.

Kant’s theory is deontological meaning the moral actions we do must be done from a sense of duty. He believed emotions shouldn’t influence our decisions as this leads to conflict. This can be seen as a positive because it leads to equality because if no one is prioritised for being a friend or family member then we can all be viewed as equals regardless of the relationship you have with someone. Additionally Kant stated in his book “Groundwork for the metaphysics of Morals” that humans are more highly praised when doing something out of duty rather than emotions. A solider fighting for his country through duty is more commended than someone fighting through anger.

Yasmin Durrant