Philosophy 21001

Introduction to Ethics

Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, Preface & Chapters 1-2

 

Preface

 

1.      According to Kant, how was ancient Greek philosophy divided?  What is the division Kant makes concerning rational knowledge?  Explain.

 

2.      What is empirical philosophy?  What is pure philosophy?

 

3.      How does Kant propose to eliminate controversy on moral issues?

 

4.      What defines a morally good action?

 

5.      What is the aim of the Groundwork?  What is the method of the Groundwork?

 

Chapter 1

 

6.      Kant characterizes the good will in a very specific way.  Explain.

 

7.      What in Kant’s discussion of the will is reminiscent of Aristotle?  How do Kant and Aristotle differ?

 

  1. What is the function of reason?

 

  1. Kant uses the word misology.  What is the context?  That is, how is he using the word and what does he say about it?

 

  1. Kant makes a striking claim—that reason can’t guide the will.  Explain.

 

  1. Kant links the good will and duty.  What does Kant say about duty?

 

  1. Kant gives a specific example about a shopkeeper.  Explain this example.  What is its significance?

 

  1. Kant lists three specific duties.  What are they?

 

  1. What is the formal principle of duty?

 

  1. On page 68, Kant writes “Duty is the necessity to act out of reverence for the law.”  Explain.

 

  1. What is the categorical imperative?

 

Chapter 2

 

  1. What does Kant say about deriving morality from examples?  Why?  Explain.

 

  1. What does Kant say about imperatives and rational beings?

 

  1. What is an imperative?  What are the two categories of imperatives?  Explain.

 

  1. How are imperatives possible?

 

  1. Kant provides four illustrations to support his claims.  What are they?  Explain them and how they relate to Kant’s project.

 

  1. What does Kant say about the need for pure ethics?

 

  1. What is the formula of the end in itself?

 

  1. What is the formula of the kingdom of ends?

 

  1. What does Kant say about autonomy of the will?

 

  1. Kant makes several statements on the bottom of page 109 (and following) that challenge other philosophers we’ve read.  What are those statements?  Whom does Kant challenge?

 

Chapter 3

 

27.  What is freedom?  What are the positive and negative conceptions of freedom?  Explain.

 

  1. Why, according to Kant, are a free will and a will under moral laws one and the same?  Explain Kant’s argument and reasoning.

 

  1. Kant writes “I assert that every being who cannot act except under the Idea of freedom is . . . really free” (p. 115, just below 448 in the margin).  What does Kant mean by this?  How does this relate to his larger argument?

 

  1. Why must a free will be attributed to all rational beings?  Explain.

 

  1. Explain the first part of the section titled “The Interest Attached to the Ideas of Morality”.  Hint:  Devote special consideration to the second paragraph.

 

  1. Carefully study the subsection titled “The two standpoints” on pages 118-120.  Try to identify three of the main points Kant is trying to make in this subsection.  Explain how these points are related to each other and to Kant’s larger argument.

 

  1. How is a categorical imperative possible?

 

  1. Carefully study the subsection titled “There is no knowledge of the intelligible world”.  What is the point Kant is trying to make? How does this relate to his larger argument?

 

  1. Carefully study the subsection titled “There is no explanation of freedom”.  What is the point Kant is trying to make? How does this relate to his larger argument?

 

  1. What is the meaning and purpose of Kant’s conclusion, “The extreme limit of moral enquiry?”  Explain.