Justice, Episode 6

2 Responses to Justice, Episode 6

1. jaehwan says:

   November 9, 2009 at 12:48 am

   Pretty amazing. I like how Kant universalized questions of morality. Too often these days people argue that morality is all subjective, but clearly it can’t be–just about everyone, for example, will say that murder is wrong.

   This lecture also helped me to see the shortcomings of Richard Dawkins neo-utilitarian statement that morality should be determined by whether or not one’s actions hurt another person. Clearly that alone is insufficient to describe a morality based on motive.

   By the way, this lecture also helped me understand more about my disgust at the Lie-nority Report. That was a big part of the excuses that “activists” were making–”It doesn’t hurt anyone.” They were right, of course, in saying that it doesn’t hurt anyone, but if you look at motive, and if you try to universalize it through the formula of humanity as end, it absolutely denies dignity to everyone involved. I think that was also part of my own disillusionment with some of the people who knowingly promoted the lie; if I had seen this episode before these people lied, I would have recognized that they were using people as a means for their own gratification rather than any kind of stated altruism.

   Awesome lecture.

   Also, I think Sandel’s brilliance comes out in this one. Granted, he’s probably taught the course for twenty years or more, but it takes talent to be able to field questions like that in front of so many people. Too bad he’s not working on commission.

   By the way, if anyone is interested, here are my notes. I may actually check out the original text by Kant.

   Each individual has a dignity

   Freedom: ability to do what we want
   Kant’s view is that freedom is the opposite of necessity.
   To act freely is to act autonomously, and to act autonomously is to act according to a law I give myself

   Heteronomy
   ‘
   Moral worth of an action depends on motive

   Duty vs. inclination

   Doing the right thing for the sake of duty

   “Honesty is the best policy. It’s also the most profitable.”

   What is the supreme principle of morality?

   Three contrasts:

   Morality: Motives: Duty vs. inclination

   Freedom: Determination of will: Autonomous vs. heteronomous

   Reason: Hypothetical imperatives (“ought”): If you want X, then do Y.
   Categorical imperatives: without dependance on any further purpose

   Universalize the maxim upon which you are about to act.

   Formula of Universal Law
   Formula of Humanity as end* (“I’m using you as a means.”)

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