SEMESTER A231 2023/2024
SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES, CIVILISATION AND PHILOSOPHY
USPP 4014 (A) COMPARATIVE PHILOSOPHY
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT
TITLE (QUESTION 9):
COMPARISON IDEAS BETWEEN JOHN LOCKE AND IMMANUEL KANT ON
MOTIVES OF MORAL ACT
PREPARED BY:
TILAGA CHANDRASEKARAN (278304)
PREPARED FOR:
PROF. DR. MUNIF Z. F. NORDIN
SUBMISSION DATE:
17 JANUARY 2024
1
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
The Background of
Study………………………………………………...3
Problem
Statement………………………………………………………
..4
Research
Questions………………………………………………………
.5
Research
Objectives……………………………………………………...
5
Research
Methodology…………………………………………………
5-6
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Idea of John Locke
…………………………………………………….6-8
2.2 Idea of Immanuel
Kant……………………………………………….9-12
3.0 ANALYSIS
3.1 MOTIVES THAT CAN MOTIVATE RATIONAL
CREATURES TO
ACT MORALLY
3.1.1. John
Locke………………………………………………..13-15
3.1.2. Immanuel
Kant……………………………………............15-16
3.2 COMPARISON IDEAS OF IMMANUEL KANT AND
JOHN
LOCKE………………………………………………………17-
21
3.3 POTENTIAL LIMITATION AND WEAKNESS IN
2
,LOCKE’S
IDEA AND IMMANUEL LIMITATIONS KANT IDEAS
3.3.1 John
Locke………………………………………………...21-22
3.3.2.Immanuel
Kant……………………………………............22--24
4.0 CONCLUSION…………………..
…………………………… ……………..25
REFERENCE…………………………………………………
……………….26- 29
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Philosophy, derived from the Greek word "philosophia" meaning "love of wisdom," is
a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like
existence, reason, knowledge, value, mind, and language. It is a rational and critical
inquiry that reflects on its methods and assumptions (Britannica, 2024). Philosophy is
essential in understanding fundamental truths about the world in which we live and
our relationships to the world and each other. It involves not only forming one's
answers to questions but also seeking to understand how people have answered such
questions in the past.
Philosophy is closely related to various academic disciplines, such as ethics, which is
a branch of philosophy that explores the nature of morality and how people should
live their lives concerning others (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2023). Philosophy
and morality are closely intertwined, with moral philosophy being a branch of
philosophy that explores the nature of morality and how people should live their lives
about others. It is independent of religious beliefs and is based on providing reasons
for one's moral beliefs. Ethics, or moral philosophy, seeks to systematize, defend, and
recommend concepts of right and wrong behavior. It consists of three major areas of
study, meta-ethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics (Unit 3: Philosophy and
Morality, 2018). Philosophy provides a framework for understanding and evaluating
3
, moral beliefs and principles, and moral philosophy specifically focuses on the nature
of morality and how it should inform human behavior.
Moral acts in philosophy are actions that are evaluated based on their moral
correctness. Philosophers engage in moral theorizing to provide a systematic account
of morality, consisting of norms and principles that govern our actions concerning
each other and which are taken to have a normative system. Moral theories try to
provide criteria for judging actions, and they have both substantive and formal aims
(Driver, 2022). Virtue ethics is a moral philosophy that emphasizes the importance of
virtuous character in moral evaluation. Consequentialism is an ethical theory that
judges an action's moral correctness by its consequences. In summary, moral acts in
philosophy are evaluated based on their moral correctness, and moral philosophy
provides a framework for understanding and evaluating moral beliefs and principles
(Moral Philosophy, 2022).
1.2.PROBLEM STATEMENT
The problem addressed in this research is the contrasting views of John Locke, who
argues that good and evil, reward, and punishment are the sole motives for rational
creatures. However, this perspective raises certain problematic implications. This
perspective is limited and does not account for all the possible motivations for rational
creatures. Locke's quote is too narrow, and that other motives can motivate rational
creatures to act morally. The further discussion on the idea of John Locke’s argument
on good and evil, reward, and punishment are the sole motives for rational creatures,
and explore the alternative motives that may influence moral decision.
A famous German philosopher and a central figure in modern philosophy is Immanuel
Kant. Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative is a central concept in his moral
philosophy. The categorical imperative offers a general and absolute standard by
which to judge whether or actions are moral, irrespective of the nature of individuals'
feelings or objectives. For Kant, moral principles must be based on reason and apply
to all rational beings. Kant's categorical imperative is deontological, which means that
it focuses on the inherent nature of the action rather than its consequences. Individuals
should consider whether the principle underlying their actions can be consistently
applied as a universal law without contradiction (Wilburn, 2022).
4
SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES, CIVILISATION AND PHILOSOPHY
USPP 4014 (A) COMPARATIVE PHILOSOPHY
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT
TITLE (QUESTION 9):
COMPARISON IDEAS BETWEEN JOHN LOCKE AND IMMANUEL KANT ON
MOTIVES OF MORAL ACT
PREPARED BY:
TILAGA CHANDRASEKARAN (278304)
PREPARED FOR:
PROF. DR. MUNIF Z. F. NORDIN
SUBMISSION DATE:
17 JANUARY 2024
1
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
The Background of
Study………………………………………………...3
Problem
Statement………………………………………………………
..4
Research
Questions………………………………………………………
.5
Research
Objectives……………………………………………………...
5
Research
Methodology…………………………………………………
5-6
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Idea of John Locke
…………………………………………………….6-8
2.2 Idea of Immanuel
Kant……………………………………………….9-12
3.0 ANALYSIS
3.1 MOTIVES THAT CAN MOTIVATE RATIONAL
CREATURES TO
ACT MORALLY
3.1.1. John
Locke………………………………………………..13-15
3.1.2. Immanuel
Kant……………………………………............15-16
3.2 COMPARISON IDEAS OF IMMANUEL KANT AND
JOHN
LOCKE………………………………………………………17-
21
3.3 POTENTIAL LIMITATION AND WEAKNESS IN
2
,LOCKE’S
IDEA AND IMMANUEL LIMITATIONS KANT IDEAS
3.3.1 John
Locke………………………………………………...21-22
3.3.2.Immanuel
Kant……………………………………............22--24
4.0 CONCLUSION…………………..
…………………………… ……………..25
REFERENCE…………………………………………………
……………….26- 29
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Philosophy, derived from the Greek word "philosophia" meaning "love of wisdom," is
a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like
existence, reason, knowledge, value, mind, and language. It is a rational and critical
inquiry that reflects on its methods and assumptions (Britannica, 2024). Philosophy is
essential in understanding fundamental truths about the world in which we live and
our relationships to the world and each other. It involves not only forming one's
answers to questions but also seeking to understand how people have answered such
questions in the past.
Philosophy is closely related to various academic disciplines, such as ethics, which is
a branch of philosophy that explores the nature of morality and how people should
live their lives concerning others (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2023). Philosophy
and morality are closely intertwined, with moral philosophy being a branch of
philosophy that explores the nature of morality and how people should live their lives
about others. It is independent of religious beliefs and is based on providing reasons
for one's moral beliefs. Ethics, or moral philosophy, seeks to systematize, defend, and
recommend concepts of right and wrong behavior. It consists of three major areas of
study, meta-ethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics (Unit 3: Philosophy and
Morality, 2018). Philosophy provides a framework for understanding and evaluating
3
, moral beliefs and principles, and moral philosophy specifically focuses on the nature
of morality and how it should inform human behavior.
Moral acts in philosophy are actions that are evaluated based on their moral
correctness. Philosophers engage in moral theorizing to provide a systematic account
of morality, consisting of norms and principles that govern our actions concerning
each other and which are taken to have a normative system. Moral theories try to
provide criteria for judging actions, and they have both substantive and formal aims
(Driver, 2022). Virtue ethics is a moral philosophy that emphasizes the importance of
virtuous character in moral evaluation. Consequentialism is an ethical theory that
judges an action's moral correctness by its consequences. In summary, moral acts in
philosophy are evaluated based on their moral correctness, and moral philosophy
provides a framework for understanding and evaluating moral beliefs and principles
(Moral Philosophy, 2022).
1.2.PROBLEM STATEMENT
The problem addressed in this research is the contrasting views of John Locke, who
argues that good and evil, reward, and punishment are the sole motives for rational
creatures. However, this perspective raises certain problematic implications. This
perspective is limited and does not account for all the possible motivations for rational
creatures. Locke's quote is too narrow, and that other motives can motivate rational
creatures to act morally. The further discussion on the idea of John Locke’s argument
on good and evil, reward, and punishment are the sole motives for rational creatures,
and explore the alternative motives that may influence moral decision.
A famous German philosopher and a central figure in modern philosophy is Immanuel
Kant. Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative is a central concept in his moral
philosophy. The categorical imperative offers a general and absolute standard by
which to judge whether or actions are moral, irrespective of the nature of individuals'
feelings or objectives. For Kant, moral principles must be based on reason and apply
to all rational beings. Kant's categorical imperative is deontological, which means that
it focuses on the inherent nature of the action rather than its consequences. Individuals
should consider whether the principle underlying their actions can be consistently
applied as a universal law without contradiction (Wilburn, 2022).
4
