Kantian Ethics

by Allen W. Wood

• ISBN13: 9780521671149
• ISBN10: 0521671140
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-12-10
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Allen Wood investigates Kant's conception of ethical theory, using it to develop a viable approach to the rights and moral duties of human beings. By remaining closer to Kant's own view of the aims of ethics, Wood's understanding of Kantian ethics differs from the received 'constructivist' interpretation, especially on such matters as the ground and function of ethical principles, the nature of ethical reasoning and autonomy as the ground of ethics. Wood does not hesitate to criticize and modify Kant's conclusions when they seem inconsistent with his basic principles or fail to make the best use of the resources Kantian principles make available. Of special interest are the book's treatment of such topics as freedom of the will, the state's role in securing economic justice, sexual morality, the justification of punishment, and the prohibition on lying.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Abbreviations	p. xv
Reason	p. 1
What Is Kantian Ethics?	p. 1
Human Nature	p. 4
Gender and Race	p. 6
Rationalism	p. 12
Norms of Reason	p. 20
Moral Worth	p. 24
Acting from Duty	p. 25
Good Will	p. 31
The Duty to Act from Duty	p. 33
Duty, Feeling, and Desire	p. 34
Kant's Aims in the First Section of the Groundwork	p. 41
Ethical Theory	p. 43
The "Intuitional" or "Scientific" Model	p. 43
Doubts about this Model	p. 47
The "Foundational" or "Philosophical" Model	p. 54
The First Principle - Moral Rules or Duties - Moral Judgment	p. 60
The Moral Law	p. 66
The Concept of a Categorical Imperative	p. 67
Kant's Systematic Presentation of the Supreme Principle of Morality	p. 68
Relations among the Formulas	p. 79
The "Universal Formula"	p. 82
Humanity	p. 85
What Is an End in Itself?	p. 85
Humanity Is an End in Itself	p. 88
The Dignity of Humanity	p. 94
The Personhood of Human Beings	p. 95
The Moral Status of Nonrational Animals	p. 101
Autonomy	p. 106
Tensions within the Idea of Autonomy	p. 106
Positive and Natural Law	p. 108
The Author and Legislator of the Moral Law	p. 111
The Nature of the Will	p. 114
How the Will Legislates to Itself	p. 116
Freedom	p. 123
Practical Freedom	p. 124
Acting for Reasons	p. 127
Autonomy and Freedom	p. 129
The Fact of Reason	p. 134
Noumenal Freedom	p. 135
How to Think about Freedom	p. 138
Virtue	p. 142
Actions and Agents	p. 142
Virtue as Strength	p. 143
Virtue and Temperament	p. 146
Virtue, Duty, and Continence	p. 148
Practical Judgment and Wisdom	p. 152
Ideals and Principles	p. 154
Duties	p. 158
Kant's Concept of Duty	p. 158
The System of Duties	p. 161
The Principle of Ethical Duties	p. 166
Duties to Oneself	p. 170
Duties of Love and Respect	p. 175
Conscience	p. 182
Conscience as Feeling	p. 183
The Inner Court	p. 184
Conscience, Guilt, and Punishment	p. 187
The Duty of Self-Knowledge	p. 189
Social Justice	p. 193
Taxing the Rich to Support the Poor	p. 194
General Injustice	p. 198
Fichte on Economic Justice	p. 200
Kantian Ethics and Economic Right	p. 203
Punishment	p. 206
What Is Retributivism?	p. 208
Kant's Best Justification of Punishment	p. 213
Punishment and Universal Law	p. 216
Is Retributivism Consistent with Kantian Ethics?	p. 219
Sex	p. 224
Sexual Desire	p. 224
The Subjection of Women	p. 228
The Meaning of the Figleaf	p. 230
Kant's Defense of Marriage	p. 234
Lies	p. 240
Intentionally False Declarations	p. 240
Kant and Constant	p. 244
Truthfulness as an Ethical Duty to Oneself	p. 251
The Inner Lie	p. 255
Consequences	p. 259
Kantian Ethics vs. "Consequentialism"	p. 259
Good versus Evil	p. 269
The Limits of Ethical Theory	p. 271
Notes	p. 275
Index	p. 335
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