Ethics Theory and

Business Practice

3.1 Kantian Theory – Part OneKant’s Moral Philosophy

aims

• to explain the emphasis that Kantian ethics theory places on intention, reason and freedom

• to explain why Kant believed actions that are motivated by a reason-based sense of duty to be most deserving of ethical esteem

ethics presupposes the importance of

1. intention2. reason 3. freedom

1. ethics presupposes the importance of intention

is it more deserving of ethical esteem:• to repay a debt because people might think ill

of you otherwise?or• to repay a debt because you believe that it is

the right thing to do?

why?

which company is more deserving of ethical esteem:• a company that supports local charities

because doing so is good PR?or• a company that supports local charities

because its managers and employees reason that they have an obligation to give something back to society in return for its support?

why?

→ intentions matter to ethics:

• when we apportion ethical esteem and ethical responsibility, we tend to take people’s intentions into account

• consequences may be important to ethics, but they are not everything

2. ethics presupposes the importance of reason

according to Kant• someone who repays a debt because reason

tells them that this is the right thing to do

is more deserving of ethical esteem than• someone who repays a debt because they are

a naturally honest person who would not think of doing otherwise

similarly, for Kant

• a company in which people reason about ethics and do what their reason tells them is the right thing to do

is more deserving of ethical esteem than• a company that is filled with people who just

do the right thing without thinking about it

in other words, for Kant

it is more deserving of ethical esteem to• act out of a reason-based sense of duty

than it is to• act out of ethical sentiment

why is reason more deserving of ethical esteem than sentiment?

because to act out of reason is to act freelywhereas acting out of sentiment is not acting freely

reason as an expression of human freedom

according to Kant, • animals are motivated by sentiment• humans are motivated by sentiment, but they are

also motivated by reason• the capacity to assert reason over sentiment is

an important part of being human• it is also an expression of human freedom

and …

3. ethics presupposes the importance of freedom

were we not free to choose how we act, we could not be held ethically responsible for our actions

in summary

an ethically right act is one which is performed out of

good intention

reason is more important than

sentiment for ethics

ethics presupposes that we are free to choose how we act

an ethical act is one that is performed out of a

reason-based sense of duty

key points

• Kant highlighted the importance of intentions, reason, and freedom for the allocation of ethical esteem and ethical responsibility

• for Kant, an ethical act is one that is performed out of a reason-based sense of duty