Read chapter 3, watch Week 6 Lecture, and watch the films “Gone Baby Gone” .apply Kant’s moral philosophy to judge the MAIN FINAL action. For “Gone Baby Gone” judge Patrick’s final decision. Judging any other action in the movie is an automatic zero. 500 words minimum in MLA format. Due on December 5th *You must apply Kant’s 3 premises (course materials) for 50 points and Michael Sandel’s 3 contrasts (Week 6 Lecture “Mind your Motive”) for 50 points.
Kantian ethics, developed by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, provides a systematic approach to moral reasoning. According to Kant, moral actions are guided by reason and are based on the concept of duty. In order to assess Patrick’s final decision in the film “Gone Baby Gone” using Kant’s moral philosophy, it is important to understand the three premises of Kantian ethics and the three contrasts provided by Michael Sandel in his lecture “Mind your Motive”.
The first premise of Kantian ethics is the principle of universalizability. This premise states that an action is morally right if and only if it can be willed as a universal law. In other words, an action is morally right if everyone could perform the same action in similar circumstances without it leading to a contradiction. This premise emphasizes the importance of consistency and treating others as ends in themselves rather than as means to an end.
The second premise of Kantian ethics is the principle of humanity. According to this premise, we should always treat others as ends in themselves and not merely as means to our own ends. This means that we should respect the inherent dignity and moral worth of every individual and not use them as objects for our own purposes.
The third premise of Kantian ethics is the principle of autonomy. This premise asserts that individuals have the capacity to make rational choices and should be treated as autonomous agents. Autonomy implies the freedom to make decisions based on reason and to act in accordance with one’s own moral principles.
In the film “Gone Baby Gone,” Patrick’s final decision involves a moral dilemma. Without spoiling the movie for those who have not seen it, Patrick faces a situation where there are conflicting duties and potential harm to the child involved. To assess Patrick’s final decision using Kantian ethics, we must consider whether his action can be justified based on Kant’s three premises.
Applying the first premise of universalizability, we must examine whether Patrick’s action can be willed as a universal law. Would it make logical sense for everyone to act as Patrick does in the same situation? Without going into specific details, it can be argued that Patrick’s action could potentially lead to contradictory consequences if universally applied. This raises questions about the consistency and universalizability of his decision.
The second premise of humanity requires us to consider how Patrick treats others in his decision-making process. Does he treat the child involved as an end in herself, respecting her inherent value and moral worth? Here, we need to reflect on Patrick’s motivations and intentions behind his final decision. If he is genuinely acting in the best interest of the child, taking into account her well-being and treating her with respect, then his action can be seen as in accordance with the second premise of Kantian ethics.
Finally, the third premise of autonomy focuses on an individual’s capacity for rationality and moral decision-making. Did Patrick make his decision based on autonomous reasoning, taking into account the relevant moral principles and considering the potential consequences? Assessing this requires a careful analysis of Patrick’s thought process and whether he considered the moral duties involved in his final choice.
In addition to Kant’s three premises, it is also important to consider Michael Sandel’s three contrasts from his lecture “Mind your Motive.” Sandel argues that when making moral judgments, we should be attentive to the intentions and motivations behind actions, the consequences of actions, and the virtues or character traits that guide our actions.
In the case of Patrick’s final decision in “Gone Baby Gone,” considering Sandel’s contrasts can provide further insight into the moral evaluation. One must reflect on Patrick’s intentions, whether they were good and motivated by a genuine concern for the child’s well-being. Additionally, the potential consequences of his action need to be assessed, taking into account the possible harms and benefits that may result. Finally, the character traits and virtues that guided Patrick in his decision-making process should be examined to determine if they align with the principles of Kantian ethics.
In conclusion, applying Kant’s moral philosophy and considering Sandel’s three contrasts, it is necessary to analyze Patrick’s final decision in “Gone Baby Gone” to determine its moral justification. By examining the three premises of Kantian ethics and assessing Patrick’s intentions, the consequences of his actions, and the virtues guiding his decision, a thorough evaluation can be made to judge the morality of his final action.