Kant and Universality
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Kant Believed that will is the only thing inherently good without qualification, and that we should behave ôaccording to the maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law,ö (Kemerling). By behaving this way, a person is hoping that everyone else will behave this way in the future, and so good will can be spread. Kant Maintained that the expression of the moral law provides a concrete, practical method for evaluating particular human actions of different types. For instance, if you are wealthy, it is permissible never to help anyone less well-off, refusing to help someone who is really struggling and in need of help, but no one could consistently will that this become the universal law because even the most fortunate person may fall on hard times and be in need of help themselves one day. In this case we have an imperfect duty to help those less fortunate, even though we cannot do a perfect duty by helping everyone less fortunate. Kant believed moral occasions arise even when other people are not involved (Kemerling). He believed we have a perf3ct duty not to commit suicide if it would cause more misery than satisfaction. Since no one would will a universalized maxim of neglecting to develop the discipline required for fulfilling oneÆs natural abilities, we have an imperfect duty to ourselves not to waste our talents. KantÆs supreme principle of morality was his belief that all moral judgments must be known a priori (Altman). He
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Approximate Word count = 1067
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page)
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