Read chapter 3, watch Week 6 Lectures, and watch the films “Gone Baby Gone” and “Sleepers”. Pick one movie and apply Kant’s moral philosophy to judge the MAIN FINAL action. For “Gone Baby Gone” judge Patrick’s final decision and for “Sleepers” judge the priest’s final decision. Judging any other action in the movie is an automatic zero. 500 words minimum in MLA/APA format. *You must apply Kant’s 3 premises and Michael Sandel’s 3 contrasts (Week 6 Lecture “Mind your Motive”)*

Kant’s moral philosophy is a deontological ethical theory that focuses on the notion of duty. According to Kant, an action can only be morally right if it is done out of a sense of duty and in accordance with moral principles that are universally valid. In order to analyze the main final actions of Patrick in “Gone Baby Gone” and the priest in “Sleepers” from a Kantian perspective, we will apply Kant’s three premises and Michael Sandel’s three contrasts.

Kant’s three premises are as follows:

1. The Categorical Imperative: Kant argues that there is a universal moral law that applies to all rational beings. This moral law is expressed through the categorical imperative, which states that an action is morally permissible if and only if the action can be willed as a universal law without contradiction.

2. Respect for Persons: Kant emphasizes the inherent worth and dignity of every individual. He argues that we must always treat people as ends in themselves, never merely as means to an end. This requires respecting the autonomy and rationality of individuals and not using them as mere tools for our own purposes.

3. Autonomy: Kant believes that individuals have the capacity for self-governance and moral decision-making. He asserts that rational beings have the ability to set their own moral principles and should not be subject to external imposition of moral rules.

In addition to Kant’s premises, we will also consider Michael Sandel’s three contrasts from his lecture on “Mind your Motive”:

1. Freedom and Morality: Sandel distinguishes between freedom and morality, arguing that moral actions are not solely determined by personal desires or individual freedom. Moral actions are constrained by moral principles that are universally valid.

2. Moral Autonomy and Moral Constraint: Sandel highlights the tension between moral autonomy, the capacity to set moral principles, and moral constraint, the limitations imposed by universal moral laws. He suggests that striking a balance between autonomy and constraint is crucial in making moral decisions.

3. Morality and Personal Enrichment: Sandel questions whether morality is solely concerned with the overall happiness and well-being of individuals. He argues that a purely utilitarian perspective that focuses on maximizing happiness may undermine the inherent worth of individuals and disregard their moral autonomy.

Now let us apply Kant’s moral philosophy and Sandel’s contrasts to judge the main final actions of Patrick in “Gone Baby Gone” and the priest in “Sleepers.”

In “Gone Baby Gone,” Patrick is faced with a moral dilemma when he discovers that a missing child, Amanda, is being held by a dangerous drug dealer named Cheese. As he investigates the situation, he learns that Amanda is living in an abusive environment but appears to be relatively safe. Patrick realizes that by intervening and bringing Amanda back to her neglectful mother, he would be following the law and restoring the child to her legal guardian. However, this would also mean subjecting Amanda to continued abuse and neglect.

Applying Kant’s first premise, the categorical imperative, we can assess Patrick’s action. Patrick’s final decision, to allow Amanda to stay with her kidnapper and protector, goes against the categorical imperative. If we were to universalize this action and allow all children to be held by kidnappers who provide a better environment than their legal guardians, it would lead to a contradiction. Upholding the categorical imperative requires that children be protected from abusive situations, even if it means overriding legal authority. From a Kantian perspective, Patrick’s decision fails to meet the requirements of the categorical imperative.

Sandel’s first contrast, freedom and morality, also sheds light on Patrick’s action. While there may be arguments for individual freedom and personal desires, morality, according to Kant, is not solely determined by these factors. Morality requires respecting the autonomy and dignity of individuals, especially those who are vulnerable, such as children. By allowing Amanda to remain in an abusive environment, Patrick fails to prioritize her well-being and autonomy over personal desires or subjective freedom.

Furthermore, Sandel’s third contrast, morality and personal enrichment, is relevant in assessing Patrick’s decision. Patrick’s intention is to protect Amanda from further harm and abuse by allowing her to stay with her kidnapper. While this may be seen as a noble goal, Kant’s moral philosophy emphasizes that the ends do not justify the means. Even if Patrick’s intention is to protect Amanda, his action still fails to meet the universal moral principles of respecting the autonomy and well-being of individuals.

In conclusion, applying Kant’s moral philosophy and Sandel’s contrasts to judge the main final actions of Patrick in “Gone Baby Gone,” it becomes apparent that his decision to allow Amanda to stay with her kidnapper goes against Kantian principles. By failing to prioritize the well-being and autonomy of a vulnerable individual and going against the categorical imperative, Patrick’s action is morally problematic according to Kantian ethics.