This week we start our discussion of Kant’s moral theory. We’ll discuss the aims and structure of the Groundwork and then move on to section one and Kant’s notion of a “good will”, acting in accordance with a maxim, and his related theory of obligation.
Readings
- Groundwork, Preface & section I: 4:387-405
- Korsgaard, ’Introduction’, preface and first section
- Optional: Korsgaard, ’Kant’s Analysis of Obligation’
- Optional: Potter, ’The Argument of Kant’s Groundwork, chapter 1’
Questions
- What does Kant think the science of morality/ethics concerns?
- Why do we need a metaphysics of morals?
- What is the aim of the Groundwork?
- What is a ’maxim’?
- Why is a good will good?
- What is the relationship between acting from duty/obligation and acting morally?