I’m working on a philosophy discussion question and need an explanation to help me learn.
Do you agree with Kant that what gives your action moral worth is your motive, your reason for doing the act? If you agree with Kant, what if really bad consequences follow from an action? (One of the problems with Kant’s theory is that it leads to saying that it is never reasonable to sacrifice the life of an innocent person to save the lives of others. So if a lifeboat were sinking and could only be saved by throwing one person overboard Kant would say that it was morally better for everyone to die than to throw an innocent person overboard.) If you disagree with Kant, do good intentions count for nothing? Explain and defend your response.
Readings: Immanuel Kant-The Categorical Imperative
Onora O’Neill-A Simplified Account of Kant’s Ethics
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