Kant and Morality Essay - 595 Words

Kant had a different ethical system which was based on reason. According to Kant reason was the fundamental authority in determining morality. All humans possess the ability to reason, and out of this ability comes two basic commands: the hypothetical imperative and the categorical imperative. In focusing on the categorical imperative, in this essay I will reveal the underlying relationship between reason and duty. The categorical imperative suggests that a course of action must be followed because of its rightness and necessity. The course of action taken can also be reasoned by its ability to be seen as a universal law. Universal laws have been deemed as unconditional commands that are binding to everyone at all times. Kant†¦show more content†¦First, all individuals do have a duty to what is right, whether they act accordingly or not. All citizens are held to a duty to uphold the laws, if there was no duty then laws would not exist. Morality coincides with being loyal to the laws, being a disciplined person, and living an orderly life. These essentials are all present in Kant’s perception of duty. Another key strength to the theory is the concentration on motivation. The motive for which an individual acts has more validity then the unknown consequences that lie ahead. According to Kant we are motivated by our duty, and we know that motivation comes from an internal source. Motive provides substance to personal decisions and choices that are made. In order to feel a duty to react or act in a certain manner, an individual uses internal reasoning when making decisions. As moral agents who have the ability to reason Kant’s theory is right on the target. We will consciously make decisions by the things or factors that we are motivated by. I feel that it is safe to say that most people actions are guided by motives whether they are morally correct or not. Utilitarians on the other hand would disagree with Kant on several points. Utilitarians would argue that actions should be decided by the consequences they would produce. Remember that utilitarians believe in the good for the greatest number. In an argument against Kant’s theory, they would say that theShow MoreRelatedImmanuel Kant And Kant On Morality1097 Words   |  5 Pagesdefinition of morality is the rules for right action and prohibitions against wrong acts. Sometimes morality is the single set of absolute rules and prohibitions that are valid for all men at all times and all societies. More loosely, a morality can be any set of ultimate principles, and there may be any number of moralities in different societies. Examples would be don’t cheat, don’t steal, and treat others as you would want to be treated. When dealing with the philosophers take on morality, there areRead MoreKant and Sexual Morality1394 Words   |  6 PagesGerman Philosopher Immanuel Kant claimed that it is morally wrong to use a person merely as a means to your end. This judgement helps us to understand and determined sexual morality. Thomas A. Mappes supports Kant’s claims and helps to further explain Kant’s statement by defining it and introducing the idea that one must give their voluntary informed consent in order for certain actions to be moral. Mappes also illustrates that voluntary informed consent can be undermined through both deception andRead MoreKant and Sexual Morality1383 Words   |  6 PagesGerman Philosopher Immanuel Kant claimed that it is morally wrong to use a person merely as a means to your end. This judgement helps us to understand and determined sexual morality. Thomas A. Mappes supports Kant’s claims and helps to further explain Kant’s statement by defining it and introducing the idea that one must give their voluntary informed consent in order for certain actions to be moral. Mappes also illustrates that vo luntary informed consent can be undermined through both deception andRead More Kant and the Morality of Anger4094 Words   |  17 PagesKant and the Morality of Anger Introduction This essay does not comprise a defence of retributive punishment, neither does it imply a rejection of deterrent punishment. The writer suggests that one possible reason for the tendency to advocate punishment of offenders with ever increasing severity can be discovered in the concept of the morality of anger. It is this explanation of the phenomenon that forms the principal burden of the arguments used in this essay. The salient characteristicsRead MoreKant And Hume On Morality Essay1952 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction ‘The relationship between Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) and David Hume (1711-1776) is a source of wide spread fascination’ (Standard Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Kant and Hume on Morality). Purpose of this essay is to provide Immanuel Kant’s claims on sympathy and David Hume’s assessment on it, backed up by their reasoning’s. By doing so, strong argument will separately be provided from both sides and the task then is to present my personal opinion on whose argument seems more compellingRead MoreMorality via Kant and Hegel1712 Words   |  7 Pagesendeavor in which few can be said to have been as influential as Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) and his most trenchant critic, G.W.F. Hegel (1770-1831). Kant’s deontological attempt to unearth this criterion rests on one of the most metaphysical and abstract explanations ever given for the common intuitions of morality (Scruton 2001, 73). With the metaphysical dual-ism claimed by his Transcendental Idealism as his cornerstone, Kant argued that Reason – to him a defining and immutable trait of human natureRead MoreKant s Theory On Morality857 Words   |  4 Pagesgrounded in sympathy and experience. Immanuel Kant, however, is certain that morals should not be derived from experience but from pure reason. I for one believe that neither of these men are entirely correct. Both of their theories on morality are flawed in that one does not account for the human experience and the other takes the human experience too much into account. To begin with Kant’s theory is flawed in that it is founded in pure reason. Deriving morality from pure reason completely negates theRead MoreKant s View On Morality921 Words   |  4 PagesAnother topic that Kant contributed to is morality. According to Kant, moral laws cannot be derived from human nature. To put it in other terms, it is not human nature that should be used as a model to how we should behave morally. Kant believed that humans do not always make the right moral decisions because human nature can be flawed at times, often times choosing an animalistic desire over doing something that is morally permissible. In addition, Kant believed that the outcome of human natureRead MoreKant s Theory Of Morality982 Words   |  4 PagesImmanuel Kant is said by many to be one of the most influential â€Å"thinkers† in the history of Western philosophy (McCormick, n.d.), this being said, most of his theories continue to be taught and are highly respected by socie ty. Kant was a firm believer that the morality of any action can be assessed by the motivation behind it (McCormick, n.d.). In other words, if an action is good but the intention behind the action is not good, the action itself would be considered immoral. Those who follow theRead MoreKant s Theory On Morality1608 Words   |  7 Pagesto support his theory on morality. I believe that Kant’s argument is essentially correct – however, with every argument comes a set of flaws, and this one is no exception. Section One starts off with a question – is anything good in itself, and if so, what is it? Kant offers to the reader several valued attributes: wit, intelligence, loyalty, and judgment (393). One might think that these attributes are what make an action morally venerated and positive. However, Kant says that if the will behind

An Examination Of How Kate Chopin s Work - 1298 Words

ENGL 1102 – Comp/Lit Essay 2 (Mulry) Sellers, James R – 920022413 Due Date: April 20, 2015 An Examination of How Kate Chopin’s Works Taken Together Contribute to our Understanding of Her Time and the Place of Women in Society Looking at themes present in his short stories and novels, Kate Chopin presents examples of female strength and an assertive rebellion to the social norms during the late 1800s. By seeking to transparently and boldly portray the risquà © behavior of her lead characters, which are with few exceptions also strong women as well, she cemented herself as a one of the unmistakable voices in the women’s rights movement, which culminated with women securing the right to vote in 1920, and the women’s liberation movement that would sweep the nation in the 1960’s. While not an outspoken voice publically during her life, as she may not have ever intentionally sought to spark feminist rebellion, the characters that she created became a presence in literature which influenced the likes of Sylvia Plath (Stone) and Edith Wharton (Papke 6). Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, a feminist American Historian from Emory University, said the following about Chopin’s covert feminist voice: â€Å"Kate was neither a feminist nor a suffragist, she said so. She was nonetheless a woman who took women extremely seriously. She never doubted women s ability to be strong. She came from a long line of strong women whom she loved and respected, the great-grandmother, grandmother, mother affiliation.Show MoreRelated The Life of Kate Chopin1083 Words   |  5 PagesThe life of Kate Chopin      Ã‚  Ã‚   Kate Chopin led a fascinating life filled with times of triumph but also times of great loss. Living in the South during the post-Civil War era, the setting and experiences of her life would have a great impact on the subjects of her writing. Chopin began writing as a way to express her frustration with life. This is why her emotions about life are conveyed so strongly in her writing. One of her short stories, Juanita, is an excellent example of how Chopins lifeRead More The Transformation of Edna Pontellier in The Awakening Essay950 Words   |  4 Pagesshe did not know what† (Chopin). In Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, the reader is introduced to Edna Pontellier, a passionate, rebellious woman. Throughout the novel, it becomes apparent how unsettled Edna feels about her life. The reader can identify this by her thoughts, desires, and actions, which are highly inappropriate for an affluent woman of the time. In the novel, Edna has an awakening and finds the courage to make the changes she sees necessary. Kate Chopin is able to make qualityRead MoreInferences Lead to Tragedy: Irony that Ruins in Kate Chopins Desirees Baby744 Words   |  3 Pages Kate Chopin utilizes irony in â€Å"Desiree’s Baby† to warn people of the dangers of racism and how it can victimize not only the hated race, but also the one who is racist. â€Å"Desiree’s Baby† is a tale about a young slave owner, Armand, with a well-respected name in Louisiana. He marries an adopted woman named Desiree and once they have their child, he notices that the baby has black features. He assumes that since he does not know his wife’s racial background that his wife must have some sort ofRead MoreResearch Paper on Kate Chopin and the Feminism in Her Works2066 Words   |  9 PagesAp English 08 27 April 2012 Kate Chopin: Feminism in Her Works â€Å"Love and passion, marriage and independence, freedom and restraint.† These are the themes that are represented and worked with throughout Kate Chopin’s works. Kate Chopin, who was born on February 8, 1851, in St. Louis, was an American acclaimed writer of short stories and novels. She was also a poet, essayist, and a memoirist. Chopin grew up around many women; intellectual women that is. Chopin said herself that she was neitherRead MoreA Hour By Kate Chopin1269 Words   |  6 PagesThe representation of marriage and gender parts portrayed in the America short stories the Necklace by Guy De Maupassan The Short story of a Hour by Kate Chopin are short stories which uncover many viewpoints seen in the human intuitive convictions. These stories demonstrate how the male characters assume the primary part in marriage as the dominant ones and their partners, the females taking up the weaker parts. The women in these stories are portrayed as unsteady person who are incl ined to fantasyRead MoreA Solitary Soul By Kate Chopin1995 Words   |  8 PagesOn April 22nd, 1899, Herbert S. Stone Company published a novel written by female Author, Kate Chopin. According to Chopin’s official website published by the Kate Chopin International Society in which biographers and editors detail information of the authors life, works, and commonly asked questions, Chopin was 49 years old at the time that The Awakening was published. This novel was originally titled A Solitary Soul, but was changed just prior to publication. Though today this novel is heavilyRead MoreLiterary Perspectives1379 Words   |  6 Pagesare primarily concerned with the language, structure, and tone of a work, otherwise known, as it’s â€Å"formal elements†. Formalists gravitate towards â€Å"intrinsic† matters in a piece of literature, in simpler terms, diction, irony, paradox, metaphor, and symbol. In a similar fashion, they emphasize larger elements, for i nstance, plot, characterization, and narrative technique, in order to derive meaning from a literary work. The work must stand by itself, and any information that goes beyond the textRead MoreThe Character Development Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain Essay2166 Words   |  9 Pagesperspective and attitude or assimilate into a civilized community that upholds traditional White-American beliefs. Similarly, Kate Chopin in her novel â€Å"The Awakening,† utilizes fictional storytelling to articulate the internal struggle of Edna Pontellier on her quest to part from her conventional role as a woman and for the first time since youth, pursue her self interests. Chopin’s work targets current social understanding of morality and ethics, removing the notion that you have to abide by what societyRead More Stop Literary Censorship Essay1566 Words   |  7 Pagesmore common all over the world today. The online Encarta Encyclopedia defines censorship as, supervision and contro l of the information and ideas that are circulated among the people within a society. In modern times, censorship refers to the examination of books...for the purpose of altering or suppressing parts thought to be objectionable or offensive. Henry Reichman from the Education World website defines it as, the removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic,Read MoreWomen s Rights Of Women2756 Words   |  12 Pagesknown through most literary circles, is Kate Chopin. However, she also wrote in a time where it was merely a dream for a woman to be full liberated from man, only obtainable upon the death of either the man or the women herself. â€Å"The Story of an Hour† is a short story about a woman (Mrs. Mallard) who finds out that her husband has passed away. She has a brief time filled with grief and enlightenment, only to find out that her husband was never dead. Chopin takes a moment to integrate that Mrs. Mallard

Effects of premarital sex and early sexual relationships on teeenagers free essay sample

The present day unipolar system has left USA as the only super power capable of conducting or organizing political military action anywhere in the world.. However, hegemony is present in a system where there is a unipolar structure of influence to match the unipolar structure capabilities for example in the 1990s the United Nations was gradually displaced from its primary responsibility for maintaining peace and security in favour of a revitalized NATO which provided the multilateral cover for US military action in the Balkans. In the war aganst Iraq, the process was taken a step further as NATO was itself sidelined in favour of a coalition of the willing(Bull,2000;23). Politically, because all states recognize that it is in their overriding self-interest to maximize their power, that’s what Waltz says they do. To do anything else is crazy because a state without enough power is a vulnerable state. And, anyway, it is too scary for states not to try to maximize their power. We will write a custom essay sample on Effects of premarital sex and early sexual relationships on teeenagers or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For instance as China continues to expand its military spending $91.  5 billion in 2011,this only represents about one seventh of the total US defense budget(estimated to reach $663. 8 bilion by the end of the year)according to China: USA FOCUS a non profit organization based in Hong-Kong. Hence this is what Waltz calls the â€Å"security dilemma( waltz,1979:123). † He argues that when one state sees another state trying to increase its power to increase its security, it gets scared, feelsthreatened, and recognizes that it too must increase its power. But, of course, thatscares the other states, and basically there is this mad spiral in which all states are T rying to have more power than all other states. According to Waltz, this competition for power among states is not always as dangerous as it at first sounds. In the international system, every state is sovereign and this implies that sovereign states are not answerable to any higher power. When one sovereign state intervenes in another sovereign state monitoring the domestic affairs of that certain country, it shows the aspect of political hegemony. One good example is that of America which has been intervening in various sovereign states under the disguise of protecting human rights. In doing so it seems like America is becoming a police man of the world. A realist scholar Hobbes (1952) postulates that the powerful will always do what they want and the weak will always comply. In other respects politics and economy are said to have existed in two separate spheres and are not logically connected to one another. In the option of the Marxist and leftists writers on one hand politics and economics are intimately linked. The insatiable desire of capitalists for continuous accumulation has been the force behind the political endeavors in every capital economy state. According to the theory of hegemonic stability, as I am using it in this article, the creation and maintenance of an open and liberal world economy such as the one that has characterized most of the world economy since the end of World War II requires a powerful leader. This leader uses its power and influence to promote trade liberalisation and a stable international monetary system primarily in order to advance its own political and economic interests. The leader, however, can seldom coerce reluctant states to obey the rules of a liberal international economic order and must seek their co-operation. These other states co-operate with the hegemony because it is in their own economic and security interests to do so. For example, although the American hegemony played a crucial role in establishing and managing the world economy following World War 2, it did so with the strong co-operation of its Cold War. Coercion involves the study of threats and demands that encourage the adversary to either reverse its action or stop what it has been doing. Unlike Deterrence, which stresses the prevention of an attack or the use of threats by state A to dissuade its enemy, state B, from attacking, coercion consists of the use of threats by state A, or the coercer (e. g. state hegemony, NATO, UN), to reverse a n act of aggression by state B. To coerce a state, then, means to employ a range of diplomatic and military options. These may include economic/trade sanctions, blockades, embargoes, and precision air-strikes. The threat of exercising these options serves as either an inducement to the transgressor state to stop what it is doing, or as punishment for not taking the steps to comply with the coercer’s demands. Such options, therefore, reflect the costs and benefits of calculated threats, and are often referred to as ex ante demands. The ex ante mix of punishment and inducements, in this case, can either take the form of a carrot/stick or use for that approach.

American Literature- Romantic Period 1820-1865 Flashcard

American Literature- Romantic Period 1820-1865