Essay On the Obligation to Keep One’s Promises - 1395 Words

On the Obligation to Keep One’s Promises Moral philosophy is generally in pursuit of the â€Å"ought.† More specifically, a common goal is to create some sort of rubric for evaluating specific situations, and in the face of a decision, revealing what â€Å"ought to be done.† A very important and consequently complicated â€Å"ought† is that which dictates if one should keep a promise. This topic is so vast that is seems it would take a great deal of effort to make progress towards an answer, and in fact, there have been volumes of philosophy written about this very subject matter. Two 18th-century moral philosophers who tackled this mammoth rather successfully are Immanuel Kant and David Hume. The backbone of Kant’s†¦show more content†¦Not only does Kant begin immediately to discuss the difficult topic of a promise, but also he cuts right to the most important part. If it is assumed that all things being equal, it is better to keep a promise than not, what happens in the situations when all things are not equal? What is the morally correct choice when keeping a promise would most definitely do more damage than not keeping it? Kant discusses the predicament, and after applying the categorical imperative as expected, finds the argument cleared up. â€Å"The most direct and infallible way†¦to answer the question†¦is to ask myself whether I would really be content if my maxim were to hold as a universal law.† Kant sees the following conclusion as obvious: â€Å"Then I immediately become aware that I can indeed will the lie but can not at all will the universal law to lie.† (Grounding, pg15). While discussing a differen t example later, Kant clarifies his reasoning on the matter. â€Å"For the universality of a law which says that anyone believing himself to be in difficulty could promise whatever he pleases with the intention of not keeping it would make promising itself†¦quite impossible.† (Grounding, pg31). Kant’s second major objection to lying comes from a violation of what he calls the â€Å"principle of humanity.† The principle of humanity comes this time from the â€Å"practical imperative† and says,Show MoreRelatedDo You Drive Home? Essay1710 Words   |  7 Pagesfor protection by the sovereign in order to obtain peace, establish order, and justice within the state. Thus, in contracting with one another, individuals agree to relinquish their natural right to everything, to not only obtain peace, and preserve one’s own life, but because this contracting is done by reason, it is done as a means for the conservation of all (214). 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