Watch the video links and then answer the following
Immanuel Kant believed that Reason and Good Will prompt human beings to recognize and follow the Moral Law, which he called the Categorical Imperative. The Law commands everyone to act prompted by an universally adoptable principle of conduct, that would treat others as one would like to be treated oneself. The moral act, according to Kant should not proceed from self love and pursuit of happiness, but from Respect for all the parties including oneself. As such, one has duties NOT ONLY TO OTHERS BUT TO ONESELF. Therefore there are two types of duties –Duty to others and Duty to oneself.
Among the duty to oneself, Kant believes is the duty not to commit suicide. By extension that leads us to further questions.
• Does that mean that the desire to end one’s life with dignity not an act of Good Will?
• If he is assisted in bringing about the end with his own consent by a physician then is the physician’s WILL TO HELP HIM NOT GOOD AND IS THE PHYSICIAN IMMORAL?
• And finally, if a terminal patient cannot ask for help at the end, but had earlier indicated his desire not to linger inperpetual pain or worse, should the person be taken off life support (Passive Euthanasia)
• Should someone else put an end to his life honoring his earlier desire?
• Do these questions get answered in Kant’s theory?
• Definition of Categorical Imperative
• Components of Categorical Imperative(e.g, Good will, freedom etc.) List all components
• Show how the duties follow from that Imperative.
• How does Kant derive the duty of not committing suicide from that IMPERATIVE.
Sample Solution
