Philosophy 103
Study questions:  Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals
Preface and First Section



1.  Kant claims that "[e]veryone must admit that if a law is to be morally valid, i.e., is to be valid
         as a ground of obligation, it must carry with it absolute necessity" (834). What do you think
         he means by this?  How does he explain it?  What implications does he think it has for the
         role of reason in grounding moral imperatives.

2.  Kant claims at the beginning of the first section that nothing (except a "good will") "can be
        called good without qualification."  What candidates does he consider, and how does he
        rule them out?

3.  Later in the first section Kant distinguishes between acts that are in accordance with duty and
        acts that are done "from duty."  How does he explain the difference?  What examples
        does he use?