Question

Suppose a man needs money, but no one will lend it to him unless he promises to pay it back which he knows he won't be able to do. Should he make a false promise to get the loan? First, define Kant's duty ethics. Second, describe what deontologists like Kant would say about the above scenario.

Answer 1

Kantian ethics refers to a deontological ethical theory ascribed to the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. It is related to Political, Moral, Rights and Religious ethics of today’s society. He proposed Deontological Ethics which basically means Duty Ethics.

Means and Ends - Kant says in a very certain tone that everyone on Earth should be treated as an ends and never as a means. Which means always treat someone else as a person who has dignity and intrinsic worth. Always treat others as if they were as much of a man/woman as you are.

Categorical Imperatives – These are unconditional commands. For example, If “Lying is wrong,” then under no circumstances is it all right to lie. The Big Categorical Imperative asserts:

This term is one that dictates all of our rules we will live by:

Act only upon that maxim by which you can, at the same time, will that your maxim should become a universal law.

This means that when you are choosing your rules to live by, you must make certain these are rules you would want the rest of the world to live by.

Good Will and Inclination - The only thing good in itself is the “Good will.” Therefore, doing something because we think is good doesn’t make the act good. It all matters on the attitude one has towards it.

The Inclination Problem - According to Kant doing something out of good will means doing it strictly for the sake of duty. Which means you do the right thing because it is your “job” to do so. As soon as you are doing an act out of the fact that you are inclined to do so because of some reward, or pleasure that is involved then that act will not account for your Good Will. Kantian Ethics is straight to the point duty inspired. There is no other emotion that should be felt other than “I must do this because it is my duty.”

Conclusion –

• Treat everyone as an ends and never as a means.
• Good Will is the only thing good in itself.
• Only Act upon that maxim which you can, at the same time, will that it should be a universal law.
• Actions that fuel the good will are done for the the sake of duty.
• If you are inclined to do something your actions have no moral worth.

What deontologists like Kant would say about the above scenario:

He should not make a false promise to get the loan. Kant states that if every individual in the universe made a false promise, the very act of making a promise would have no meaning. Thus, no person would be able to trust the other person entirely. He further educates individuals on directing their intention to engage in actions that can be turned in universal law. The duty should be legal or ethical, that is a duty not to make false promises, referring to the duty relevant at the time the promise is made, or a duty to perform as promised earlier,