Ethics of maxims

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With Maxim ethics such concepts are moral philosophy called, in which subjective principles of action ( maxims are) with a general supreme rule of morality connected. The term is used to distinguish it from moral-philosophical concepts in which actions are directly judged on the basis of general rules or norms . An ethics of maxims is still in opposition to an ethics of purpose (teleological ethics, e.g. virtue ethics in Aristotle ) or to an ethics of goods (striving for a highest good , e.g. utility in utilitarianism ).

The concept of maxims is a basic element of Immanuel Kant's ethics . In laying the foundations for the metaphysics of morals , he first formulated the categorical imperative, which in its basic formula reads:

"The categorical imperative is only one, namely this: only act according to the maxim through which you can also want it to become a general law."

- AA IV, 421 / BA 52

As a subjective principle of volition, maxims are principles of action for different cases in an area of ​​life, which a person chooses in order to then orient their actions towards the pursuit of a purpose. Maxims represent the bridge between the formal categorical imperative and the practical will of an acting subject .

Features and benefits

According to Michael Albrecht, maxims have at least the following properties:

  • Maxims determine action (130)
  • Maxims are practical principles (130)
  • Maxims are subjective and self-designed (131)
  • Maxims contain a matter (132)
  • Maxims contain a voluntary commitment (132)
  • Maxim are character-forming (133)
  • There is a hierarchical relationship between maxims (137)
  • Maxims are more general than simple rules of action (138)
  • Maxims serve to check decisions before actions (139)

Otfried Höffe names eight advantages of a maxim ethic:

  1. Maxim are open to different living conditions because they are formulated across the board. This allows you to react flexibly in the respective context.
  2. The agent can consider his individual abilities in his maxims.
  3. In a maxim ethic, the demand for the development of character virtues can be taken into account.
  4. An ethics of maxims demands and enables the use of judgment.
  5. A maxim ethic is possible regardless of culture and zeitgeist.
  6. A maxim ethic makes it possible to develop one's own context of life and meaning.
  7. A maxim ethic is a good basis for a moral education.
  8. Maxims help to justify actions.

Micha H. Werner transferred the concept of maxim ethics to discourse ethics .

literature

  • Michael Albrecht: Kant's ethics of maxims, Kant studies 85 (2/1994), 129–146
  • Otfried Höffe: The art of living and ethics of maxims. Two models of philosophical orientation, in: Michael Zichy, Herwig Grimm (Ed.): Praxis in der Ethik. For reflection on methods in application-oriented moral philosophy, de Gruyter, Berlin 2008, 71–86
  • Otfried Höffe: Autonomy and generalization as a moral principle, in: Fritz Oser, Reinhard Fatke, Otfried Höffe (eds.): Transformation and development. Basics of moral education, Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt 1997
  • Maria Schwartz: The concept of the maxim in Kant. An investigation of the concept of maxims in Kant's practical philosophy, Lit, Berlin 2006
  • Micha H. Werner: Discourse ethics as maxim ethics. From the justification of principles to action orientation. Königshausen & Neumann, Würzburg 2003

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Peter Prechtl, Franz-Peter Burkard (ed.): Metzler Lexicon of Philosophy, JB Metzler; 3rd edition 2008 ( article online )
  2. Dieter Schönecker, Allen W. Wood: Immanuel Kant, "Basis for the Metaphysics of Morals". 4th edition. Schöningh, Paderborn 2011, 104; Kant: One maxim is a "rule of the agent, which he makes a principle for himself for subjective reasons" (MSR, AA VI, 225)
  3. Michael Albrecht: Kant's ethics of maxims, Kant studies 85 (2/1994), 129-146
  4. ^ Otfried Höffe: The art of living and ethics of maxims. Two models of philosophical orientation, in: Michael Zichy, Herwig Grimm (Ed.): Praxis in der Ethik. For reflection on methods in application-oriented moral philosophy, de Gruyter, Berlin 2008, 82-85