Immanuel Kant's Moral Theory

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Moral theory helps us determine what is right or wrong. It helps us to answer and respond the question, what makes an act right or wrong and how can we correct the conclusions about our morality. The practical goal of moral theory has to do with our desire to find the answer between right and wrong. For example, Descartes used rationalism to try to find the solid foundation for knowledge. He tries to find something that does not have any doubt or error to it. Ethics keeps people and our Earth morally grounded. If we have no expectations, we would not be where we are today in the world with all of the advances, and friendships. The theoretical aim of moral theory is to discover those underlying features of the actions that make them morally …show more content…

Immanuel Kant, a famous German philosopher, was influenced by Aristotle views in philosophy. In his work, the Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, Kant argues his view for ethics, deontology. Deontology believe that it is our duty to be morality right. It also says that certain types of actions are wrong or right, but how are we positive of what is right or wrong? Actions are the result of our choices and we should base our actions on our choices. Kant starts off his work by mentioning the word maxim. Kant believes that we act on a maxim when we make our own decisions. Maxims, in other words, are defined as a intent or goal. We set out on a maxim to achieve the best possible outcome, which brings Kant to his next argument that “good will appears to constitute the indispensable condition even of being worthy of happiness” (Kant 18). Good will is the only concept that is morally good without any requirement. Good will can result in the happiness that Aristotle believes in. It is our duty by the Category Imperative that we promote …show more content…

According to formula two of Kant’s argument, good will is guided by reason. We should follow our own good will in order to gain talents to then help others. Our own good will cannot come from a gut feeling, we should consider our own obligations that Kant has set for us in order to reach our own happiness. We should act to use humanity by not using other people in order to get their means because that is immortal. It is our ability to make our own choices and be rational with the intention of creating good will. A person’s moral worth cannot determined by other people and their thoughts. It is our own rational thinking that determines our own result. Above all, it is the recognition of duty itself that must drive our actions. Our own reasons give us our own duties so that we can live up to the Kantian standards and fulfill our duty as being a rational, successful human

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