Introduction to Ethics

Dr. Syed Nizar

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 Lecture - 4

Deontological Ethics

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 Reading Materials

Mackinnon & Fiala(2014), Ethics: Theory and Contemporary

Issues, London: Cengage Learning. pp. 114 - 137
 The right to strike

What is Strike?
Strike action, also called labor strike, labour strike, or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass
refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became
common during the Industrial Revolution, when mass labor became important in factories and mines.

Why labar should have right to strike?

The right to strike is fundamental and often the last resort for workers. In a capitalist system, withholding
labour, is a crucial negotiating tool during the bargaining process, its main objective is to change the
balance of power between workers and the employer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4BfKwgKbd0

New Laws In Bangladesh

“The maximum punishment for instigating an "illegal" strike, layoff and lockout is one-year
imprisonment or a fine of Tk 50,000 or both, as per the draft, which was approved at a cabinet
meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Essential services include post and
telecommunication, internet, ICT, mobile financial service, digital financial services, power
generation, supply and sales, gas, passengers and goods transportation by road, rail, air and
waterways, terminals, customs and food procurement.” [Nov 1, 2022; The Daily Star]
 The right to strike

Similar laws in other countries

The UK government’s has passed Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill. This will mean that when workers lawfully
vote to strike in health, education, fire, transport, border security and nuclear decommissioning, they could be
forced to attend work – and sacked if they don’t comply. A similar kink of law was passed before “in France, the so
called 'minimum service' laws simply require 48 hours' notice for transport unions to strike, or five days for health
workers. This is purely so that employers can find other staff to cover.

What is the moral ground for passing Minimum Service Levels bill?

https://www.itv.com/news/2023-01-05/what-is-the-new-minimum-service-strike-legislation-poised-to-be-brought-
in
 Lecture Outline
• What is Deontological Ethics?
• Good Will
• Duty
• Categorical Imperative
 Deontological Ethics
The word deontology derives from the Greek words for duty (deon) and science
or study of (logos).

In contemporary moral philosophy, deontology is one of those kinds of

normative theories regarding which choices are morally required, forbidden, or
permitted.

Deontology is the study of duty. According to deontological ethics, the sole

feature that gives an action moral worth is not the outcome or consequence
that is achieved by the action, but the motive that is behind the action.

Deontology is opposed to Consequentialism – the ethical theory which holds

that the moral worth of an action is determined by whatever makes for the best
consequences.
Immanuel Kant
(1724-1804) Deontology is often associated with philosopher Immanuel Kant.
 Deontological Ethics

Kant’s ethics has three important concepts:

 Good Will
 Duty
 Categorical Imperative

Immanuel Kant
(1724-1804)
 Good Will
Famous first sentence of Fundamental Principles of the
Metaphysics of Morals: “It is impossible to conceive
anything at all in the world, or even out of it, which can be
taken as good without qualification, except a good will.”

The will is good through its willing alone. Even if the good
will cannot carry out its intentions, it is good in itself.

According to Kant we should not judge the good will by its

Immanuel Kant "fruitfulness".
(1724-1804)

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 The Good of the Good Will vs. the
Good of Other Good Things
Kant goes on to defend the 1st sentence by contrasting the good of
the good will with the good of other sorts of things
(1) “Gifts of nature” like (a) talents of the minds (intelligence, wit,
judgment), and (b) qualities of temperament (courage, resolution,
and constancy of purpose). “Gifts of nature” are good, but if they
are not backed by good character or a good will, then they can be
put to bad use by a bad person.
(2) “Gifts of fortune” (power, wealth, honor, health, happiness).
They are good but sometimes they led us astray as moral beings.
Aristotelian virtues like moderation and self-control are good but
they are not good without qualification. Kant says, “the coolness of
Immanuel Kant a villain makes him far more dangerous” [than he would have been
(1724-1804) had he lacked the self-control and calm deliberation that coolness
implies].
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 Importance of Will in ethics
When we act, whether or not we achieve what we intend
with our actions is often beyond our control, so the
morality of our actions does not depend upon their
outcome. What we can control, however, is the will
behind the action. The morality of an action, therefore,
must be assessed in terms of the motivation behind it.
The right motive of action is ‘to do the right thing’, ‘to do
one’s duty’, ‘to respect the moral law’. A rational being
who consistently has the right motive has what Kant calls
a Good Will. The value of a good will then lies entirely in
itself and not in what it produces.
Immanuel Kant A good will, then, is a will that acts from duty.
(1724-1804)

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 Duty for Duty’s Sake
In order to clear what Kant means by saying that a good will is a
will that acts from duty he distinguishes a will that acts from
duty from a will that acts in conformity with duty.
Example of a shopkeeper: Shopkeeper’s action conform with
duty in the sense that he keeps a “fixed general price for
everyone” and does not overcharge. His customers are thus
“served honestly”.
In determining the moral worth of an action, we have to take
account of action’s motive. But what is the shopkeeper’s motive?
(a) If the shopkeeper’s motive for charging a fair price is that it
serves his own best interest, then this motive is not
praiseworthy.
Immanuel Kant (b) If the shopkeeper’s motive for charging a fair price is because
he is sympathetic toward her customers, then this motive is still
(1724-1804) not praiseworthy.
(c) If the shopkeeper’s motive is to do the right thing because it
is the right thing, then his motive is indeed praiseworthy. Only
doing that which is morally right is praiseworthy. 12
 Moral Law or Categorical Imperative
Kant then defines duty as “Duty is “the necessity of
an action done from respect for the law.” For him, a
will that is good acts “from respect for law”.

Imperatives are commands expressing reasons for

action. They are expressed in ‘ought’ judgments.
Imperatives are of two kinds:
1. Hypothetical Imperatives
2. Categorical Imperatives

Immanuel Kant
(1724-1804)

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 Hypothetical imperatives Vs Categorical imperatives
Hypothetical imperatives are conditional
imperatives, sentences of the form: “If such-and-such,
then do so-and-so.” – e.g., “If you want a good
reputation, don’t cheat people.”

Categorical imperatives do not have “if”-clauses.

Example: “Don’t lie.” There is no “if” about it. They
are truly unconditional imperatives. They are
universally binding on all rational creatures.

Immanuel Kant The moral imperative must be categorical.

(1724-1804)

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Categorical vs. Hypothetical Imperatives

Hypothetical Categorical
a) Action → goal/result a) Absolute
b) Moral duty
b) Conditional c) Direct humans to the
c) Not moral right actions
d) Only valid if end achieved d) Good itself
e) Morality is prescriptive
e) ‘if you want X you do
action A’
& gives guidance
f) No conditions
f) Moral duties dependent
on consequences

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 Formulation of Categorical Imperative
For Kant, moral law commands categorically. Moral laws
are absolutely binding regardless of personal interest or
desire.
Moral obligation are derived from pure reason.
Kant provides us three formula of Moral Law. We will
focus on first two .

Immanuel Kant
(1724-1804)

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 Categorical Imperative
Formulation 1:

The Universalizability Principle

“Act only according to that maxim which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law without contradiction”

if you aren't willing for the ethical rule you claim to be following to be applied equally to everyone - including you - then that rule is not a
valid moral rule. I can't claim that something is a valid moral rule and make an exception to it for myself and my family and friends.

A maxim is a principle upon which we act. Kant calls it ‘subjective’ principle, meaning by this a principle on which a rational agent does act
– a principle manifested in actions which are in fact performed. All actions have maxims, such as, (a) Never lie to your friends; (b) Never
act in a way that would make your parents ashamed of you.

A will is good will if it pass this Categorical Imperative test

 Categorical Imperative Test
• Example of performing an action (e.g., in situations in which I need
money and know I can't pay it back, I will falsely promise to pay it
back.") and to test whether this action or maxim can be a universal law.
• Formulate the maxim: Figure out what general principle you would be
acting on if you were to perform the action. Example: “in situations in
which I need money and know I can't pay it back, I will falsely promise
to pay it back."
• Universalize the maxim: "in situations in which anyone needs money and
knows he or she cannot pay it back, he or she will falsely promise to pay
it back.”
• Determine whether the universalized maxim could be a universal law:
This maxim could not be a universal law: if everyone started making
false promises, the institution of promising would disappear, so no one
would be able to make a false promises, since there would be no such
thing as a promise to falsely make.
• But perhaps the maxim could be a universal law. Then we need to ask a
further question: could we will that the maxim be a universal law? Kant
thinks that it could be the case that everyone refused to ever help others
in distress, but that we could not will that this be the case because that
would mean no one would help us when we were in distress)
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 Categorical Imperative
Formulation 2

Formula of Humanity

“So act that you use humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end, never
merely as a means.”

The idea here is that everyone, insofar as he or she is a rational being, is intrinsically valuable; we ought therefore to treat people as
having a value all their own rather than merely as useful tools or devices by means of which we can satisfy our own goals or purposes.
Other people are valuable not merely insofar as they can serve our purposes; they are also valuable in themselves.

Treat people with respect. Don’t use people; don’t allow yourself to be used.

In Kant's theory of value dignity is the supreme value; thus ends in themselves are to be valued morally above all other entities. To
respect persons is to regard them as absolutely, unconditionally, and incomparably valuable, to value them in themselves and not just in
comparison to others.