Philosophy 160
Introduction to Ethics

Handout 8 - Kant

KCI: an act is morally right if and only if its maxim is universalizable.

The maxim of an act is the rule, or general policy, that the agent is acting on.

(it states the type of action the agent takes himself to be performing and the circumstances in which he takes himself to be performing it.)

To say that the maxim of some action is universalizable is to say that the agent is willing for the maxim to be followed by everyone.

Anthrax Tax Case:

Alternatives                                     Hedonic Utilities
a1: pay the tax                                        +500
a2: buy myself CD's instead                    +502

M(a1): Whenever there is a national emergency tax that I’m supposed to pay, I will use the money to buy CD’s instead.

The "Change the Maxim" Argument:

Alternatives                                     Hedonic Utilities
a3: pay the tax                                        +500
a4: buy myself CD's instead                    +502

M(a3): Whenever there is a national emergency tax that I’m supposed to pay and I was born on 8/22/72 at 8:15 a.m., I will use the money to buy CD’s instead.

1. If KCI is true, then the normative status of a1 is different from the normative status of a3.
2. The normative status of a1 is not different from the normative status of a3.
3. Therefore, KCI is not true.

The Stock Market Argument:

a5: I take all my money out of the stock market.

M(a5): When the stock market hits 9,000, I will take all my money out of it.

1. If KCI is true, then a5 is morally wrong.
2. But a5 is not morally wrong.
3. Therefore, KCI is not true.