Is Kantian ethics left defenseless in the face of evil?
Within this essay the question of whether Kantian ethics is left defenseless in the face of evil is unfolded. Some thinkers claim that it is not advisable to rigorously adhere to the categorical imperative. That is to say, it is prudent only to follow the categorical imperative, acting in such a way...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
2002-01-01
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| Series: | Ethic@: an International Journal for Moral Philosophy |
| Online Access: | https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/ethic/article/view/14594 |
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| author | Matthew Stapleton |
| author_facet | Matthew Stapleton |
| author_sort | Matthew Stapleton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Within this essay the question of whether Kantian ethics is left defenseless in the face of evil is unfolded. Some thinkers claim that it is not advisable to rigorously adhere to the categorical imperative. That is to say, it is prudent only to follow the categorical imperative, acting in such a way that you may will that the maxim of your actions becomes a universal law, when one is dealing with other ethical beings. However, when dealing with evil, it is claimed that we should develop other special principles that allow for consequences favorable to the ethical party. This essay takes exception with this claim, demonstrating
that for Kant such a problem would not have even appeared. Furthermore, this essay argues that to deviate from the moral principle does damage to the truth and humanity as a whole. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3bd49b9614e24d2e9ff2558b8c4603cd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1677-2954 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2002-01-01 |
| publisher | Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ethic@: an International Journal for Moral Philosophy |
| spelling | doaj-art-3bd49b9614e24d2e9ff2558b8c4603cd2025-08-20T02:40:36ZengUniversidade Federal de Santa CatarinaEthic@: an International Journal for Moral Philosophy1677-29542002-01-011211815Is Kantian ethics left defenseless in the face of evil?Matthew Stapleton0Marshall UniversityWithin this essay the question of whether Kantian ethics is left defenseless in the face of evil is unfolded. Some thinkers claim that it is not advisable to rigorously adhere to the categorical imperative. That is to say, it is prudent only to follow the categorical imperative, acting in such a way that you may will that the maxim of your actions becomes a universal law, when one is dealing with other ethical beings. However, when dealing with evil, it is claimed that we should develop other special principles that allow for consequences favorable to the ethical party. This essay takes exception with this claim, demonstrating that for Kant such a problem would not have even appeared. Furthermore, this essay argues that to deviate from the moral principle does damage to the truth and humanity as a whole.https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/ethic/article/view/14594 |
| spellingShingle | Matthew Stapleton Is Kantian ethics left defenseless in the face of evil? Ethic@: an International Journal for Moral Philosophy |
| title | Is Kantian ethics left defenseless in the face of evil? |
| title_full | Is Kantian ethics left defenseless in the face of evil? |
| title_fullStr | Is Kantian ethics left defenseless in the face of evil? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is Kantian ethics left defenseless in the face of evil? |
| title_short | Is Kantian ethics left defenseless in the face of evil? |
| title_sort | is kantian ethics left defenseless in the face of evil |
| url | https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/ethic/article/view/14594 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT matthewstapleton iskantianethicsleftdefenselessinthefaceofevil |