Kant Paper- Why is the autonomy formula of the CI necessary?

Topic One

Kant claims that the natural law formula (NLF, so you don’t have to type it over and over) of the categorical imperative (CI so you don’t have to type it obvert and over) (p. 24-26) tests for moral worth. Explain why the criteria for moral worth that Kant attaches to the Natural Law has anything to do with testing moral worth. A brief statement of what these criteria have to do with moral worth will be your thesis statement.

a. In your intro paragraph announce that you intend to show why the criteria for testing moral worth attributed to the NLF are in fact tests of moral worth and give a brief statement for why you think they do. In the briefest way, tell the reader what argument you use to show this. You’ll get into the details and justify your position in the body of the paper.

b. In your second paragraph, explain what a categorical imperative is and the features it possess (p. 24 [explain command of reason and imperative], 26, 29-30). You must explain what the features mean. This is not a book report where you merely repeat what Kant says. Quote what Kant says and explain what it means. Then quote the NLF of the CI (p. 30) and explain (1) what it means and (2) why it possesses the features of the categorical imperative Kant discusses on p. 26 and 29-30. You are required to do this because the NLF is a way of expressing the CI.

c. In your third paragraph, explain the criteria included in the natural law formula that test for moral worth. (p. 32-33 [424 to 425]). You want to quote Kant and explain what he says means.

d. For the remainder of the paper, present an explanation and interpretation for why the criteria for moral worth that Kant discusses on p. 32-33 (424 to 425) have anything to do with testing for moral goodness. Parts b and c are exegesis of Kant’s thought. Part d is YOUR argument about Kant’s thought. You are, of course, free to discuss the examples that Kant uses on p. 30-32 as well as things he says in the Preface and the First Section. But the point is to explain why we should accept that the criteria for moral worth (discussed on p. 32-33) should be accepted as having anything to do with moral worth.

NOTE: DO NOT BRING IN THE HUMANITY OR AUTONOMY FORMULAS. THE TOPIC IS ABOUT THE NATURAL LAW FORMULA ALONE.

Topic Two

Can Kant’s moral system help settle the abortion question? In your paper, present an argument that establishes whether Kant would allow that abortion is morally permissible or not. Since Kant never mentions abortion, don’t be so sloppy as to say he does in your paper.

a. In your intro paragraph announce the position you take (you will either suppose Kant would allow that abortion is morally permissible or not). Then, in the briefest way possible, quickly, but clearly, sum up the argument you use to secure your chosen position, i.e., your reason for thinking Kant would or would not suppose abortion to be morally permissible.

b. In your second paragraph, explain Kant’s distinction between persons and things. What makes a person be a person and why? What makes a thing be a thing and why? Do not just repeat what Kant says, but agree with it and explain to the reader why what Kant says makes sense. Explain what his reasoning seems to be to you.

c. In your third paragraph, explain why Kant thinks that persons are owed respect and cannot be treated as mere means. Why must rational agency be treated as an end and never merely as a means? Do not just repeat what Kant says, but agree with it and explain to the reader why what Kant says makes sense. Explain what his reasoning seems to be to you.

d. In your fourth paragraph, take up the status of a human fetus. Explain whether you think that a fetus should be accorded respect given Kant’s thinking about things and persons. Is the fetus a thing or a person according to Kant’s criteria? Why? You must include a discussion of this in terms of nature as first potentiality (you may write 1P) and second potentiality (2P). Is respect owed to 1P or only 2P? Why?

If you think 1P is owed respect, the onus is on you to explain why what is only potentially an end in itself is owed respect. If you think only 2P is owed respect, you must explain why a fetus which indeed has a rational nature is not owed respect. Obviously the fetus is not ‘simply’ a thing because things do not have the potential to develop self-determination. But the human fetus does. And yet, the fetus is not yet self-determinate. So is the fetus owed respect or not?

e. Given what position you arrive at in part d, consider whether it is morally permissible to abort a fetus, according to Kant’s thinking. You can consider two different scenarios. First, take the case where a mother simply wants to have an abortion due to some self-interest (finance, not ready, etc.). Can it be moral to abort the fetus given part d? Second, take the case where the mother’s health is in danger. If she does not abort she, will die (don’t ask how we know this—it’s irrelevant). Can it be moral to abort the fetus given part d?

NOTE: DO NOT BRING IN NATURAL LAW OR AUTONOMY FORMULAS. THE TOPIC IS ABOUT THE HUMANITY FORMULA ALONE.

Topic Three

Why is the autonomy formula of the CI (AF, so you don’t have to type it over and over) necessary? What does the autonomy formula emphasize especially that the other expressions we discussed do not so much emphasize? Kant appears to link freedom (autonomy) and moral action. To be free (autonomous) is to be moral and to be moral is to be free.

a. In your intro paragraph, announce that you plan to show (1) what autonomy of the will (AW, so you don’t have to type it over and over) is and (2) why autonomy and morality are connected. In the briefest way, state what autonomy of the will is and why autonomy and morality are essentially linked (this is your thesis).

b. In your second paragraph, explain what a categorical imperative is and the features it possess (p. 24 [explain command of reason and imperative], 26, 29-30). You must explain what the features mean. This is not a book report where you merely repeat what Kant says. Quote what Kant says and explain what it means. Then quote the AF of the CI (p. 38) and explain (1) what it means and (2) why it possesses the features of the categorical imperative Kant discusses on p. 26 and 29-30. You are required to do this because the AF is a way of expressing the CI.

c. In your third paragraph, explain what AW (p. 39, 44) is and contrast it with what heteronomy of the will HW is (p. 39, 45). If you really wish to impress, you will want to explain how AW and AF follows as a consequence of Kant’s definition of a person, i.e., how being a person (a “rational being”) already contains the idea of AW and AF.

d. Finally, do morality and freedom (as Kant understands freedom) imply each other? In your fourth paragraph, explain why the autonomy formula is necessary for (1) ensuring moral worth in actions (explain Kant’s argument) and (2) why Aw and the AF are necessary for securing unconditional, moral obligation (“duty”), i.e., why without AW and acting according to the AF, there cannot be any unconditional source of obligation (“duty”) (again, explain Kant’s argument). Part D is all on pp. 38-39.