Natural Law Theory, Kant
In this paper, I plan to discuss what can account for moral goodness according to the Natural Law Theory, and the modern philosopher Immanuel Kant. Each has different views on how to judge whether a person is morally good. Each has their own standards of measurement, which will be explained throughout this paper. I will also discuss objections that can be made against the two theories. I will base this on an article I once read that gives the situation of a violinist that is dying and I had been kidnapped in order to provide life support for him or he will die. I will assess as to whether my action, to keep myself plugged in and save this persons life, was rooted in moral goodness according to each of the two theories. I chose to include the hypothetical situation this article presents in my paper because after reading it, one can't help but think what they would do if put in that situation. The Natural Law Theory rests upon a certain view of what the world is like. In this view the world has rational order and values within its structure. Everything in nature has purpose. These natural laws also explain how things ought to be. Things are said to be as they ought to when serving their natural purposes. There are als
In conclusion, I believe that Kant's theory is a more plausible one in this day and age. I believe that his justification of good will to do an action is a good indicator of a moral good being done. I did not use my autonomous will to plug myself into the violinist; I was put there because of forces outside my body. Therefore, even if I did choose to keep myself plugged in, I would not be doing a moral deed, according to Kant. There is a need in this world for universal maxims, people change dispositions in different circumstances, as in the religion example mentioned earlier. Kant's theory, rules are necessary to keep moral order could be a real and working theory. My only objection to the Natural Law Theory is that it says people must act in accordance with nature. "What is the case" and "what ought to be the case" are logically different notions, and no real conclusion about one follows from the other. People may be beneficent, but it does not follow that they should be beneficent. Facts and values are two different things. In comparison, Kant makes a very logical connection between rules and morality, Morality exists when it arises from a universalizable maxim, set of rules and facts based on knowledge, which can be applied universally. The only thing Kant does not account for are emotions, and they do a play a role in lives of human beings. Everyone should be aware of his/her duty, or how one ought to act. This assumes rationality. Rationality may also be applied to those things that are not done from duty, or perhaps evil. Freedom must be assumed to fulfill moral obligation, "I see duty, I do it." Perhaps, the Society of Music Lovers were acting from duty because they used reason to find me. However, they took away from me, the possibility of acting from duty, by imposing the act of being life support to the violinist. The categorical imperatives are a set of commands to direct our will. These apply to all people and commands conduct immediately, without having any other purpose or conditions. It is categorical because of its application to all rational beings and imperative because it's the principle by which one should act. The basic formulation of the categorical imperative is: "Act only on that maxim whereby thou canst at the same time will that it should become a universal law." Other formulations of the categorical imperative include; not treating other human beings as a mere means rather than as an end, and that of the will regarding itself when making a universal law. If we act w
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Approximate Word count = 1710
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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