Empirical Enquiry and Critical Thought Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Empirical Enquiry and Critical Thought - Essay Example Using the rule of categorical imperative Kant suggested we therefore dare to give our promise, because there is still value in it, as tantamount to how we think and make our choice. We make promises because we think we have to fulfill them. We therefore have the positive choice to accomplish what we need to accomplish based on what we have promised. This is a remarkable indication of a good will if we want to come to consider the whole idea of Kant concerning the ethics associated with duty. For Kant, in understanding the moral requirements, it is important that we act not out of inclination, but out of duty because doing so the latter is inherent of a good will. The work at hand considers some thoughts how might Kant’s example of the ‘promise’ be useful in contemporary society together with the theory linked to this and how this might have meaningful application in modern day event. Moral Law A false promise therefore according to Kant is a contradiction to the m oral law, but what makes it a significant conflict is not the associated consequence, but the way on how people think and make choices (Kerstein, 2004, p.168; Jecker, 2011, p.151). Kant believed that there is moral law that governs standard of rationality leading us to the implementation of moral requirements. In line with this moral law, irrational acts are therefore leading mankind to immorality. I agree with the idea of Kant and in the same way as how Locke and Hobbes, the other philosophers argued that the standard of rationality paves the way for moral requirements (De La Sierra, 2012, p.270; Morris, 1999, p.185; Paul et al., 2008, p.223). Understanding the idea of Kant leads me to the thought that he has a good point why he argued that we should not look at the consequence of an action, but rather on the actual intention prior to doing it. Suppose a business man owed a debt to a business partner and signed a promissory note to pay the actual cash incurred at a specified time a nd amount. This business man has a principle that he could just get around his obligation by adhering to a ‘false promise’ and continue to generate financial gain out of it. The key idea in this given example concerns whether the business man who is indebted to pay is living under the principle of moral law. Certainly, the man’s false promise is out of inclination and not out of duty. If all would make a false promise to make advantage of it, there would certainly come a time that everyone would not take promise seriously. In other words, the business man’s ultimate principle is a contradiction itself, because he could never gain from it, as the ultimate point of his inclination in the first place. In this case, if we based it on the idea of Kant, it is not the consequence that would tell us about a morally important thing, but the business person’s way of thinking, something invisible, but essential in understanding the moral law. Garrett (2006) sh owed that the ‘categorical imperative,’ just as how Kant explained would make it possible for us to understand the moral law. Duty of Ethics We can only generate general or substantial understanding of Kant’s example of promise if we come to consider his theory of the Duty of Ethics. As already stated, we need to understand what moral

Histroy 201 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Histroy 201 - Essay Example There had been numerous deliberations out of the Convention, among which the final document was derived after a lot of discussions and grueling debates. Pinckney Plan The Pinckney plan was a plan of government introduced by South Carolina’s Charles Pinckney on May 29, 1787, the same day on which Randolph initiated the Virginia Plan. As Vile (580) states, Pinckney had not maintained it on any writing and the only evidence was the Madison’s notes which were not very reliable. It was all about a treaty among the 13 states. His idea was to hold a house having a member for thousand inhabitants and to elect a Senator for four years and also elect cabinet members. He also suggested for a Federal Judicial Court. Pinckney’s plan was not opposed but left for the decision of the Committee of Detail. Virginia Plan The Virginia plan was actually formulated even before the convention by the delegates from Virginia, on their meeting to discuss on the Madison’s thoughts, notes, and works. Edmund Randolph, the governor of Virginia presented the plan on May 29, 1787, which was also called the Large State Plan. The plans suggested for the establishment of houses of legislature proportionally, making it a ‘controlling bicameral administration’ (Vile, 428). The plan proposed that the upper class would be elected by the lower and the lower would be elected by the people. It also suggested for a judiciary. New Jersey Plan William Paterson, a delegate of the New Jersey proposed the New Jersey Plan, asking for an adjournment to contemplate the Virginia plan. The suggestion to make the legislature houses in proportion would limit the authority of smaller states. Therefore the smaller sates discussed to respond to the Virginian Plan and brought forward the New Jersey Plan, also known as Small State Plan. This plan was entirely against the Virginia Plan, and asked to fix the problems of Articles of Confederation by amendment. According to Vile (583 ), The New Jersey Plan stood for the Congress to be given more powers and to sustain the existing Continental Congress. The plan created an executive branch for a single term and a judiciary for life, appointed by the executives. Finally, any law implemented by Congress would proceed over the state laws. However at the presentation of the plan, it was rejected. Hamilton’s Plan On the dissatisfaction of the previous plans, the Hamilton Plan otherwise called the British Plan was introduced by Alexander Hamilton, having similarity with the powerful centralized British government. Hamilton came up with the idea of abolish state control and merge the state into a single nation. His plan suggested for the bicameral legislature, the lower house elected for three years by the public and the upper class elected for life bye the lower class. The national governing body enjoys the â€Å"veto power over any state administration†; it also proposed a Governor being elected by the el ectors and holds the office for a life-term service (Vile, 583). Slavery and Connecticut Compromise The most debated issue among the delegates was slavery. The regulation of slavery was a question of controversy between the South and North, as 40 percent of the population of South was slaves.