The Sheriff’s DilemmaThe Sheriff’s Dilemma

How to structure your answerHow to structure your answer

The Sheriff’s DilemmaThe Sheriff’s Dilemma

It is 1873 in the Wild West of It is 1873 in the Wild West of America. The sheriff of a small America. The sheriff of a small remote town has arrested a remote town has arrested a man suspected of murdering a man suspected of murdering a child. A mob gathers outside child. A mob gathers outside the courthouse threatening to the courthouse threatening to break in and lynch the suspect. break in and lynch the suspect. If they don’t get their way the If they don’t get their way the sheriff, his deputies and many sheriff, his deputies and many other people will be killed. The other people will be killed. The sheriff is faced with 2 choices, sheriff is faced with 2 choices, he ponders those choices as he ponders those choices as the first shot is fired. the first shot is fired.

How might a Kantian respond to How might a Kantian respond to the sheriff’s situation? What the sheriff’s situation? What advice might they offer? 18KUadvice might they offer? 18KU

IntroductionIntroduction Start off by saying a little Start off by saying a little

about the philosopher about the philosopher associated with the theoryassociated with the theory

When and where he livedWhen and where he lived His literary work, the His literary work, the

primary source of his theoryprimary source of his theory What he did for a livingWhat he did for a living What was said about him by What was said about him by

others: in Kant’s case “you others: in Kant’s case “you could set your watch by could set your watch by him”him”

A sentence or two on the A sentence or two on the sort of theory that it issort of theory that it is

It should all be briefIt should all be brief

Example of Introduction.Example of Introduction. Immanuel Kant was an 18Immanuel Kant was an 18thth century philosopher from the century philosopher from the

city of Konigsberg, now part of Germany. He was a city of Konigsberg, now part of Germany. He was a professor at the university of Konigsberg where he taught professor at the university of Konigsberg where he taught philosophy, among other subjects. He was an influential philosophy, among other subjects. He was an influential figure of the Enlightenment period. His major works include figure of the Enlightenment period. His major works include The Critique of Pure Reason and The Groundwork on the The Critique of Pure Reason and The Groundwork on the Metaphysics of Morals. It was said that one could set their Metaphysics of Morals. It was said that one could set their watch by him, he took his walk at the same time of day watch by him, he took his walk at the same time of day rain, hail or shine. Kant set out his moral theory in The rain, hail or shine. Kant set out his moral theory in The Groundwork; it is a deontological theory, ie, based on rules Groundwork; it is a deontological theory, ie, based on rules and principles of action. He claimed that there are certain and principles of action. He claimed that there are certain moral obligations which are categorical and binding and moral obligations which are categorical and binding and based on duty. His theory is sometimes referred to as Duty based on duty. His theory is sometimes referred to as Duty Ethics. Ethics.

Setting out Kant’s TheorySetting out Kant’s Theory Now go on and explain the theory in more detailNow go on and explain the theory in more detail Kant distinguishes between hypothetical and categorical Kant distinguishes between hypothetical and categorical

imperativesimperatives Hypothetical imperatives are dependent on endsHypothetical imperatives are dependent on ends If you want to achieve x then you must do yIf you want to achieve x then you must do y Categorical imperatives are ends in themselvesCategorical imperatives are ends in themselves The second formulation of Kant’s Categorical Imperative states The second formulation of Kant’s Categorical Imperative states

that we must never use someone as a means to an end but as an that we must never use someone as a means to an end but as an end in themselvesend in themselves

Categorical imperatives are moral imperatives and are not Categorical imperatives are moral imperatives and are not dependent on anything elsedependent on anything else

If the sheriff were to hand the suspect over to the mob he would If the sheriff were to hand the suspect over to the mob he would be using him as a means to an endbe using him as a means to an end

This would be giving the suspect instrumental value; using him to This would be giving the suspect instrumental value; using him to stop the mob from rioting and preventing deathsstop the mob from rioting and preventing deaths

Consequences are irrelevant in Kant’s moral decision making as Consequences are irrelevant in Kant’s moral decision making as they are out with our control and unpredictablethey are out with our control and unpredictable

What should I do?What should I do? A Kantian would A Kantian would notnot ask the ask the

sheriff to consider the sheriff to consider the consequences in order to consequences in order to make a decisionmake a decision

The decision must be based The decision must be based on duty, when one is acting in on duty, when one is acting in accordance with duty one is accordance with duty one is following the moral lawfollowing the moral law

Acting from duty shows the Acting from duty shows the good will in actiongood will in action

The sheriff has a duty and the The sheriff has a duty and the categorical imperative helps categorical imperative helps one to identify what that duty one to identify what that duty isis

He must consider his options; He must consider his options; give the suspect to the mob give the suspect to the mob or protect him from the mob?or protect him from the mob?

Duty and MaximsDuty and Maxims The sheriff has a duty to protect prisoners and to uphold justiceThe sheriff has a duty to protect prisoners and to uphold justice Kant believed that humans were unique because of their ability Kant believed that humans were unique because of their ability

to reasonto reason Reason dictates that everyone will be able to work out what to Reason dictates that everyone will be able to work out what to

do in any situationdo in any situation The first formulation of the CI states that one must be willing to The first formulation of the CI states that one must be willing to

act only on a maxim that he would wish to become a universal act only on a maxim that he would wish to become a universal lawlaw

Explain maximsExplain maxims The sheriff may act on the maxim ‘always protect suspects The sheriff may act on the maxim ‘always protect suspects

from rioting bloodthirsty mobs’ or ‘always maintain the law’from rioting bloodthirsty mobs’ or ‘always maintain the law’ This would have to be able to be universalised without This would have to be able to be universalised without

contradicting itselfcontradicting itself Can these maxims be universalised? YES!Can these maxims be universalised? YES!

ReasonReason The categorical imperative The categorical imperative

applies reason to moral applies reason to moral decision makingdecision making

By universalising a maxim we By universalising a maxim we are applying it to everyone in are applying it to everyone in the same situationthe same situation

Reason dictates that the right Reason dictates that the right thing to do is to protect the thing to do is to protect the suspectsuspect

If the sheriff were to hand him If the sheriff were to hand him over he would not be using over he would not be using reason reason

The maxim he would be acting The maxim he would be acting on could not be universalised on could not be universalised and would therefore fail the and would therefore fail the test of the categorical test of the categorical imperativeimperative

Justice would fall apart and Justice would fall apart and suspects would have no suspects would have no protection in futureprotection in future

Kingdom of EndsKingdom of Ends The 3The 3rdrd formulation of the formulation of the

Categorical adds a community Categorical adds a community aspect to Kant’s theoryaspect to Kant’s theory

One must be willing to become One must be willing to become a lawmaking member of a a lawmaking member of a kingdom of endskingdom of ends

This upholds the dignity and This upholds the dignity and value of everyonevalue of everyone

The maxims we act on must The maxims we act on must treat everyone as an end in treat everyone as an end in themselves and maintain their themselves and maintain their intrinsic worthintrinsic worth

No one would logically wish to No one would logically wish to exist in a society where the exist in a society where the rules they lived by were rules they lived by were harmful to all including oneselfharmful to all including oneself

ConclusionConclusion Conclusion should be shortConclusion should be short It should sum up the main points of your argumentIt should sum up the main points of your argument Do not add any new information at this stageDo not add any new information at this stage Bring together all the points that you have already madeBring together all the points that you have already made An example of a conclusion could be:An example of a conclusion could be:““So in conclusion, the Kantian’s advice to the sheriff would be to So in conclusion, the Kantian’s advice to the sheriff would be to

act on a maxim that he would wish to be applicable to act on a maxim that he would wish to be applicable to himself, this would mean that he must treat the prisoner himself, this would mean that he must treat the prisoner (suspect) as an end in himself because this is how the sheriff (suspect) as an end in himself because this is how the sheriff would wish to be treated. This would mean that the sheriff would wish to be treated. This would mean that the sheriff would have to deny the mob the suspect and protect him as would have to deny the mob the suspect and protect him as he may be innocent, even although many people will be he may be innocent, even although many people will be killed. If the sheriff did not do this and his action was killed. If the sheriff did not do this and his action was universalised, there would be no justice or protection for universalised, there would be no justice or protection for those suspected of a crime. For a Kantian this is the right those suspected of a crime. For a Kantian this is the right thing to do”.thing to do”.

However, the sheriff does have a real dilemma, how can he However, the sheriff does have a real dilemma, how can he protect the suspect without killing some of the mob?protect the suspect without killing some of the mob?