Long Essay Outline- Camryn Christy PDF

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Camryn Christy Long Essay 2 outline 1)The main idea of the theory/argument you are engaging with ●

The concept of a “universal law” is unrealistic and has too broad of a definition.

2) Identify 2 or 3 main quotes that support your understanding of the theory/argument ●

“Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.”

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“The will is conceived as a faculty of determining oneself to action in accordance with the conception of certain laws. And such a faculty can be found only in rational beings.”

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“I am never to act otherwise than so that I could also will that my maxim should become a universal law.”

3) Discuss together your main ideas/arguments for your own paper ●

Unrealistic ○

proposes an idealized version of what one should do in different situations. This idealized version leaves no room for exceptions or mistakes.

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Assuming every individual will follow a law in which no exceptions or mistakes are permissible is foolish and unrealistic

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fails to provide what action an individual must take in certain moral situations

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It is unrealistic and unhelpful if the universal law only tells a person what they cannot do without providing any other information to help guide correct decisions

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Leads to unacceptable conclusions

Too broad

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too broad to actually make any accurate, moral decisions

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it fails to recognize the possible differences within different situations

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There is no set rule for what to do in each and every possible moral situation, there is only the one formula that one must use no matter what

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Any person can fit their situation to pass the universal maxim by slightly twisting their words

4) summarize what your main argument will be Kant's universal law is unrealistic and too broad to be useful. A decision is more than just being told yes or no, there are many more things that play into a decision, for example, the circumstances, the people involved, and the predicted outcome. Kant makes decisions to be black or white when in reality, there is much more grey matter in the middle. It is unrealistic in the fact that is proposes what to do in an ideal world while failing to provide any further instruction or exceptions. It is too broad in the sense that it fails to recognize different situations and anyone can twist their words into passing the universal maxim. Overall it leads to unacceptable conclusions in unrealistic circumstances and is nearly impossible to implement in our modern day society....