Question 1
Second Written Assignment
Deontology
Read Chapter 6, watch the Week 6 Video Lecture (Deontology), and pick a movie. Apply Kant’s moral philosophy to judge the MAIN action of the movie you chose. I highly recommend the movies: Gone Baby Gone and Sleepers, but you can select any other movie. Please make sure the movie you picked displays a strong moral dilemma. Identify the moral dilemma at the beginning of your paper. You must apply Kant’s two arguments (week 6 folder) and Michael Sandel’s 3 contrasts (Week 6 Folder Lecture: Mind your Motive). The paper must have at least 500 words and be in MLA or APA format. Please use Microsoft word, in which you can access through your outlook email. DO NOT USE BULLET POINTS OR A CHECKLIST FORMAT. YOU WILL LOSE POINTS. I WANT AN ESSAY-FORMAT.
*You can find Sandel’s three contrats in the video lecture aroud the timestamp 39:39. I highly recommend watching the entire video to get a strong grasp on the contrasts, but for your reference, I will list them out here:
[Motive] Duty vs Inclination
[Freedom] Autonomous vs Heteronomous
[Reason] Hypothetical vs Categorical Imperative
**Aspects I will be looking for:
1) You have an introduction that both introduces deontology and the main moral issue in the movie. You also have a thesis statement that clearly states your position on the matter and how you will argue for it.
2) You use both of Kant’s two arguments (found in week six folder). You not only mention them but you apply them to the moral dilemma in your selected movie. You also make sure to explain them in your own words as to what these premises mean because they can be a bit confusing for those who are not familar with them. You use examples from the film to demonstrate your points.
3) You make sure to use deontological language/terms to convey your reasons. For example: Dignity is replaced with people as rational ends in themselves.
4) You use all three of Sandel’s three contrasts by explaining which side your character’s moral action is on. You also adequately explain what these contrasts mean by including details and reasons either from the book or Sandel’s video lecture. You use examples from the movie to demonstrate you point.
5) You include a conclusion that sums up the gist of your essay.
Question 2
For this discussion board post please answer the following:
1) In your own words, explain the two formulas inside Kant’s Categorical Imperative.
2) What makes the Categorical Imperative special or not in your opinion?
3) Apply Kant’s moral philosophy to a moment in your life where you or someone you know behaved wrong/immoral.
4) How can these two formulas help you recognize what was right and what was wrong in that scenario?
Answering these questions will be worth five points. Please respond to two other classmates for the remaining five points.
Additional Information Kant’s Categorical Imperative
Nature of the concept
1.The first premise is that a person acts morally if his or her conduct would, without condition, be the “right” conduct for any person in similar circumstances as if one was establishing a universal law. Here Kant asks us to test the universality of our action. Will it be OK if everyone does what I am about to do? Does the employment of the policy/principle lead to a contradiction. For instance: Employing an universal policy of breaking one’s oaths would lead to a contradiction because if everyone broke their oaths, then no one would recognize any value in oath-keeping. Hence breaking one’s oaths and oath-keeping would be in contradiction with each other because the practice falls apart (the “First Maxim”).
2.The second premise is that conduct is “right” if it treats others as ends in themselves and never as means to an end. By virtue of all people being rational beings, they are inherently valuable. Violating this princple would strip the other person of their autonomy and status as a rational being. This also violates Kant’s “Kingdom of Ends” because some people would be devalued and treated as something lower than a human being (the “Second Maxim”).Watch Vide Kant’s three contrasts inside the Categorical Imperative. You must apply them in your Deontology Paper.