During class we discussed the Categorical Imperative and the
three formulations. The first formulation states, “Act in such a way that you
can will the maxim of your actions as a universal law”. This formulation can be
tricky because one’s first thought about it is that it is similar to the Golden
Rule, but it isn’t. The Golden Rule is saying that one should treat others as
one would like others to treat oneself. The
first formulation is saying that an individual should act in such a way that he
or she can obligate the rest to act in that very same way.
The example that was used in class to understand the first
formulation better was the act of lying. According to the Golden Rule, we should
not lie so we won’t have to be worried about others lying to us. If we didn’t follow
this rule we would never be sure if someone is telling us the truth or not. The
first formulation, on the other hand, is saying that we should not lie because it
is an immoral thing to do period. This formulation makes more sense in
comparison to the Golden Rule because if we are trying to become better moral
agents we should behave in ways that will not only benefit us, but benefit the
rest as well.
I hope I explained things better instead of confusing them
even more.
This is just a link to a picture I found. I think it relates to my topic.
http://s1.hubimg.com/u/6590132_f520.jpg
This is just a link to a picture I found. I think it relates to my topic.
http://s1.hubimg.com/u/6590132_f520.jpg
Although I agree for the most part with the first part of the Kant's Categorical Imperative, I think without some dishonesties are morally right. We tell small lies very often and have been told small lies many times as well: Santa Claus is real, you've lost weight, or whatever the lie may be. Without the myth of Santa Claus, generations and generations of children would not have the same joy and spirit towards Christmas. Referring to Kant's third formula for the Categorical Imperative, I do not think a moral agent in a moral world would object to stopping Santa Claus and the tradition that comes with his lie. The same concept goes towards telling a friend they have lost weight or they look good in a shirt. We have all told a "white lie" to bring a little happiness or keep a little sadness away from a friend. I do not think that same moral agent would hurt someone to follow a moral law. Though Kant's first formula for the Categorical Imperative may work for other moral dilemas,but lying may not be the best example due to some of the grey areas that accopmany it.
ReplyDeleteThe moral action having a good outcome does not make that moral action good. This “white lie” brought happiness to the little children, and that lie also made a friend feel better, but in the end it is not okay to lie period. So the Categorical Imperative can actually work with this moral dilemma.
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