Kantian Ethics
Evaluate duty, good will and the universal-law and humanity formulations of the categorical imperative.
How to study A-level Philosophy
Learn each position as an argument, connect it to its strongest objection and reply, then decide what conclusion the dialectic supports.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Kant grounds moral worth in acting from duty with a good will rather than merely in producing desirable consequences.
Exam cue: Formulate the maxim with act, circumstance and purpose before universalising it.
Concept 2
The first formulation tests maxims through contradiction in conception and contradiction in will.
Exam cue: Distinguish acting in accordance with duty from acting from duty.
Concept 3
The second formulation requires treating humanity always as an end and never merely as a means.
Exam cue: Explain whether an objection targets universalisability, motive, conflict or the exclusion of consequences.
Targeted study blocks
Specified core
Secure the claim and its place in the debate
Learn Kant's account of duty and both required formulations, then assess conflicts of duty, consequences, motives and Foot's challenge about hypothetical imperatives.
Philosophical work
Reconstruct, challenge and judge the argument
Apply the formulations step by step to a precise maxim and judge whether a revised maxim reveals a genuine moral distinction or manipulates the test.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Reducing the categorical imperative to asking whether everyone literally performs the act.
Guardrail: Do not replace philosophical reasoning with quotation, biography, intuition or a philosopher's name.
Claiming that using another person is always forbidden rather than using them merely as a means.
Guardrail: Do not replace philosophical reasoning with quotation, biography, intuition or a philosopher's name.
Assuming Kant ignores every fact about consequences when applying a maxim.
Guardrail: Do not replace philosophical reasoning with quotation, biography, intuition or a philosopher's name.
Memory anchors
Good will
A good will chooses morally because duty requires it.
Hypothetical imperative
A hypothetical imperative commands conditionally on an agent's chosen end.
Categorical imperative
A categorical imperative commands unconditionally as a requirement of reason.
Contradiction in conception
A maxim fails in conception if universalisation undermines the practice it presupposes.
Humanity formula
Treat rational humanity always as an end and never merely as a means.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
What alone does Kant call good without qualification?
When does an action have moral worth for Kant?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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