Kant Vocabulary PDF

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Clarence G Uher Immanuel Kant vocabulary used in Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals...

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PHIL 21001- Introduction to Ethics Kant Vocabulary

C. G. Uher

 A posteriori – Reasoning that is derived from sensory perceptions.  A priori – Reasoning that is derived prior to sensory perceptions.  Autonomy – A self-governing “Free” Will. (Synonymous with a Moral Will or Good Will)  Categorical Imperative – Kant’s “supreme moral principle”. The Categorical Imperative helps us to identify Moral Laws (Duty) through the use of (pure) reason.  Causality – The cause/effect relationship. [the basic formula for the Hypothetical Imperative]  Consequentialism – Making a moral decision based on the best possible (anticipated) consequences of an action.  Deontological – Making a moral decision based on a set of rules or principles. Kant will refer to “Moral Laws” or “Duties’ as the set of rules.  Duty – a moral law. For Kant, a self-legislated obligation.  Empirical – Gathering facts or knowledge through the use of our senses.  Formula – Kant refers to the Categorical Imperative as a “formula”. I will often call it a “filter” that is used to identify moral Duties.  Happiness – For Kant, an ambiguous concept that involves feelings of satisfaction.  Heteronomy – For our purposes, a Will that is acted on from an outside force as opposed to a Free Will.  Hypothetical Imperative – A conditional formula of the form: If I do “X” (action), then “Y” (consequence) will result.  Inclination – anticipated consequence one is trying to achieve though their actions. A desire one hopes to satisfy.  Maxim – A subjective principle. Any subjective plan of action.  Moral Law – A Duty.  Motive – Anything that will cause a person to act. It might be a desire or goal that causes a person to act. For Kant, the only motivation for a moral act is the respect of Moral Law.

 Pure Reason – (a priori reasoning) reasoning that is free from the influence of experience (empirical data/life experience). Kant is very strict about his insistence that Duty can only be identified by the exercise of pure reason....