Ethics: Morality

Ethics : Morality

Philosophy did not include morality in a clear manner until Kant 's work emerged in the 18th century . Kant 's method of philosophy is called deontology , and this is a form of philosophy that deals with reason of action and a sense of duty

Since the advent of Christianity and the rise of other religions in the world , mankind has been in the grips of confusion in terms of morality Does morality necessarily need to be hand in hand with religion ? Does one act in a moral manner due to

the confines of religious training , or is it possible to have morals without religion ? This is what Kant endeavored to establish , that morality could be exercised independently of religion , and from the realm of reason rather than ethics , although ethics and morality are somewhat intertwined

Before Kant , morality in philosophy was crafted around what people ought to do , rather than what they actually do (Dr . Bob Zunjic University Of Rhode Island , 1994 - 2005

In the continuous struggle to do what is right , some can take comfort in Kant 's idea that an act of good will is good whether or not it succeeds and whether or not the end result is good . If an act of good will initiated the consequences , then the original act was one of moral grounds . This is in conflict with our modern society , since very often a gesture of goodwill can reap disastrous consequences involving liability and accountability to an extreme

But for the time , Kant 's work was valuable and still is , if looked upon in the light of the philosopher himself . Given the offerings of his time , Kant felt it critical to introduce a way of transcending both empiricism and rationalism in modern terms , Kant was the first to introduce the concept that the mind plays a huge part in the creation of reality . We take this for granted now , but in Kant 's time his work based on this very simple premise changed the face of philosophy

In discussing morality , Kant postulates that there are moral laws which apply to all people and are also logically necessary : An action which is good should not only conform to a moral law , but should be done for the sake of a moral law (Immanuel Kant , Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals , translated by H .J . Paton New York : Harper Row , 1964 ,

.58

Motivation is Kant 's focus if a person commits a moral act simply out of moral obligation but without morality as the motivating force , then the gesture or act is empty . Kant 's point was that good will is the primary factor of morality . Unlike Aristotle , who claimed that good works and acts come from a setting of material contentment (happiness Kant emphasizes that good fortune can breed malintent just as easily and what seems to be a good gesture with evil intent can be dangerous (such as Hitler and Stalin

Since other philosophers grappled with the mind and...