Kant claims the form of an action is more important for judging its moral worth than the content of the consequences that follow from it (Cooper, 2004, p. 267). Our ability as humans to act out of duty, and not just for advancing personal goals, Kant believed, separated humans from animals. Kant regarded anyone who suffered or acted self-sacrificially as having good-will which is one's ability to act for duty's sake. According to Kant, when we ignore our inclinations (feelings and thoughts of reward) and carry out our duty in order to resolve an ethical dilemma, we are acting morally in accordance with his categorical imperative or moral law. Such a principle:
1. applies universally despite local inclinations e.g. be honest under all circumstances
2. dictates through the lens of pure reason to treat people as ends in themselves
Kant further believed that for someone to act for duty's sake, he or she had to intrinsically generate, after contemplating on moral concepts, a property he termed as reverence. This virtue-like, internally derived property continuously works to demolish self-love in order that we may exist as authentic autonomous beings able to obey our moral wills despite the inclinations of the flesh. Similarly, if we contemplate on God's word, a holy reverence is likewise generated for even higher purposes.
[...] Furthermore, as a principle that receives the universal consent of moral equals, Social Contract Theory is regarded as an effective tool in the reforming of institutions with their egocentric policies that unevenly distribute social, economic and political goods. Many claim however that the contract doesn't exist. David Hume, for example, stated that history and experience clearly shows that members of society obey authority out of duty not consent. Rousseau, a proponent of Social Contract Theory, countered: yield to the strong is an act of necessity, not of will. At most it is the result of a dictate of prudence. [...]
[...] In Ernest Barker Social contract (pp. 167-307). London: Oxford University Press. UNICEF. (n.d.). Children's Rights and Responsibilities. Leaflet. [...]
[...] More of the Nation's budget dedicated toward innovation and entrepreneurship Every generation must agree to the Social Contract for law and order to prevail. However, financially and morally bankrupt governments are the greatest threats to the integrity of the social contract and are the single reason for a return to the ‘state of nature'. So before it's too late, let's stop charging students money to learn and start charging them with the responsibility to lead. References: Copper, D. (2004). Ethics for Professionals in a Multicultural World. Pearson/Prentice Hall. Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. (1762, 1968). The social contract. [...]
[...] Social Contract Theory vs. Kant's Duty Ethics Duty Ethics Kant claims the form of an action is more important for judging its moral worth than the content of the consequences that follow from it (Cooper p. 267). Our ability as humans to act out of duty, and not just for advancing personal goals, Kant believed, separated humans from animals. Kant regarded anyone who suffered or acted self-sacrificially as having good-will which is one's ability to act for duty's sake. According to Kant, when we ignore our inclinations (feelings and thoughts of reward) and carry out our duty in order to resolve an ethical dilemma, we are acting morally in accordance with his categorical imperative or moral law. [...]
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