Distinction between acting in accordance with the moral law and acting because of the moral law (only the latter counts)
Categorical Imperative (2nd formulation):
Treat human beings as ends-in-themselves, never as mere means
Know how categorical imperative leads to specific rules (e.g., "breaking promises is wrong")
Main Objections:
Implausibility of absolute rules (is lying always wrong?)
Conflicts between rules (what if you must choose between protecting an innocent life and telling the truth?)
Utilitarian justifications of punishment
Deterrence, rehabilitation, prevention of repeat occurrences
Kant's criticism of above
Kant's retributivism
Requirement of justice, treating criminals as ends-in-themselves (as rational beings accountable for what they did)
Distinction between "human being" (genetically human) and "person" (rational being)
Marquis's future like ours (= future of value) criterion
Why killing a fetus is therefore just as bad as killing a normal human being
Contraception objection
Violinist example (and what it shows)
Right to life = right to not be killed unjustly
Argument that third party need not remain neutral between mother and fetus (Coat argument)
People seeds example
Main argument for
Argument from mercy - cruel not to (compare with how we treat animals)
Utilitarian version of argument from mercy
Main objection to above (voluntary vs. involuntary euthanasia)
Rachels's version of argument from mercy
Euthanasia permissible when it is in everyone's best interests and no one's rights are violated
Van den Haag's replies to common objections:
Maldistribution
Irrelevant: Those who are guilty deserve punishment whether or not some other guilty party is also punished
Same bias is inherent in all forms of punishment
No evidence that it is a deterrent
Still justified as retribution
The mere possibility that it is a deterrent is sufficient, since saving a few innocent lives outweighs preserving the lives of many murderers
Innocent may be executed
Many other activities carry similar risks
The advantages of capital punishment outweigh the disadvantages
Singer's view:
Sentience a prerequisite for having interests
Suffering equally bad no matter who suffers
Meaning of "speciesism"
Positive vs. Negative rights
Three types of laws
Libertarianism
Slavery argument
Emigration argument
Functions of government in a Minimal State
"Compassionate libertarianism"
How the government might fund welfare, etc., without violating anyone's rights