According to Kantianism, what is the ultimate good? What does that good thing or value say about right action? What is the right thing to do?
On page 134, it discusses Peter Geach (a Kantian and a devout Catholic) who thinks that absolute moral rules ("Don't kill" or "Do not lie" or "keep your promises," for example) will never come into conflict with each other, leading to a situation in which one would not know what to do. Geach believes that since God would never put us in a situation in which it would be unclear how to follow our duty (doing the right thing), that Kant's Categorical Imperative makes sense.
Can you come up with a counterexample? Can you provide an example in which two moral duties seem to come into conflict?
Why does Kant think that it is impermissible to lie?
It hurts people.
It contradicts the will.
It leads to bad consequences.
Because the truth always comes out.
On a Kantian view, who is more morally praiseworthy for giving to charity and why? Explain:
A scrooge-like character, who never gave to charity, but one day realizes it's his moral duty to do so, and though he doesn't want to, begins to give money to charity regularly out of a sense of duty and not because it makes him or others happy.
A saint-like character, who always gives to charity without even having to think about it. Generosity and kindness just flows from this person. When asked why he's always giving to charity, he replies, "I don't know, I guess I just can't help myself."