Kants Moral Theory and Demandingness
In this paper, I sketch a Kantian account of duties of rescue, which I take to be compatible with Kants theory. I argue that there is in fact no trumping relation between imperfect and perfect duties but merely that latitude shrinks away in certain circumstances. Against possible demandingness...
| Published in: | Ethical theory and moral practice |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Springer Science + Business Media B. V
[2015]
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| In: |
Ethical theory and moral practice
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| IxTheo Classification: | NCA Ethics TJ Modern history VA Philosophy XA Law ZC Politics in general |
| Further subjects: | B
Perfect duties
B Beneficence B Demandingness B Immanuel Kant B Imperfect duties |
| Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | In this paper, I sketch a Kantian account of duties of rescue, which I take to be compatible with Kants theory. I argue that there is in fact no trumping relation between imperfect and perfect duties but merely that latitude shrinks away in certain circumstances. Against possible demandingness objections, I explain why Kant thought that imperfect duty must allow latitude for choice and argue that we must understand the necessary space for pursuing ones own happiness as entailed by Kants justification of ones duty to promote others happiness. Nevertheless, becoming worthy of happiness has always priority over ones own happiness, even when circumstances are such that we cannot secure our own happiness without seriously neglecting more pressing needs of other persons. I conclude that Kants moral theory calls for complementation by the political and juridical domain. Implementing just political institutions and creating satisfactorily well-ordered societies create an external world which is friendlier to our attempts to reconcile moral integrity and a happy human life. |
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| ISSN: | 1572-8447 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Ethical theory and moral practice
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1007/s10677-015-9600-x |