How does Kantian ethics determine what we ought to do? Kantian ethics

Kantian ethics

What does Kantian ethics tell us about what to do? Kantian ethics (also known as deontological ethics) was developed in late 18th-century Germany by Immanuel Kant. Kantian ethics is founded on the belief that moral decisions should not be based only on consequences but on a universal moral code. Kant suggested that moral decisions should be made in compliance with the Categorical Imperative, a moral principle. The Categorical Imperative (or moral law) states that you should only act according to the maxim that allows you to simultaneously make it a universal law. This means that ethical decisions should be made based on whether everyone would accept their actions. In other words, when we make ethical decisions we need to ask whether others would agree with us. Kantian ethics stresses the importance respecting autonomy. Kant argued that it is wrong to violate someone’s autonomy and that we should respect the rights of others when making ethical decisions (Kant, 1785). When deciding what to do we must consider what our. Cont…