Kant and Mill

Announcement: no class on Friday Feb 21.  There's an optional RR.


Scenarios

1. Walking in cricket--ethical or stupid?

2. Trouncing and boasting--problematic or just fine?

Ancient ethics (Plato, Aristotle)

• An athlete or sports organization inspired by ancient ethics will regard virtue as having paramount importance
• But what are the virtues...for us, today?

Utilitarianism--John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)

• To figure out what is right and wrong, must consider consequences of action or policy
• The right action is the one that maximizes total good for all affected (i.e. the balance of happiness over misery)
• The right policy is the one that maximizes total good for all affected
• What would a Utilitarian cricket player do in scenario 1?
• What would a Utilitarian soccer player do in scenario 2? To trounce or not to trounce, to boast or not to boast?

Immanuel Kant (1724-1824)

• Ethics is not virtue-base and not consequence based
• It's based on one "super-rule," the Categorical Imperative"
• Categorical means "It applies no matter what, in every circumstances, whatever your goals are"

The Categorical Imperative (two formulations)

Formulation #1. Your code of conduct must always be such that you would and could want everyone to adopt the same code of conduct. 

• What is my code of conduct now?
• Would/could I want everyone to adopt the same code of conduct? 

Formulation #2. Never treat a person only as a means, but always as an end

• Don't "use" people and don't let others "use" you.
• Treat people with respect, as autonomous beings with basic dignity.

From the super-rule to other rules

1. Never lie
2. Never steal
3. Never break your promises

The Kantian athlete

• The Kantian cricket player
• The Kantian soccer player
• Could you be a Kantian professional wrestler or boxer?  

7. Combat sports--especially problematic?