CMRJ308 Midterm
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School
American Military University *
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Course
308
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
odt
Pages
3
Uploaded by udxxbeauty
Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher who is considered one of the most important figures in philosophy. His work had a profound influence on a wide range of fields, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics (Bird & Duignan, 2023). During his earlier years, his family were devout Lutherans where he was taught that religion belongs to the inner life expressed in simplicity and obedience to moral law (Bird & Duignan, 2023). In 1740, he enrolled in University of Konigsberg as a theological student, but was
mostly interested in mathematics and physics.
Kant was the first philosopher to define deontological ethics, where he held that nothing is good without qualification except a good will (Bird & Duignan, 2023). Kant defined good will as one who will act in accordance with the moral law and out of respect for that law rather than out of natural inclinations (Bird & Duignan, 2023). A distinctive feature of Kant's ethics is that is focuses on duties, defined by right and wrong (Cressman et al., 2019). Under Kant's deontology, right actions stem from being morally required to do and wrong actions are morally forbidden. Deontological ethics emphasizes the importance of adhering to moral rules and duties, regardless of the consequences (Barrow & Khandhar, 2023).
Law enforcement officers are bound by law and their oath to perform
their duty. In regards to deontology, these duties are absolute and must be applied to everyone equally (Xu & Ma, 2016). deontological theory can assist law enforcement officers facing a moral dilemma in
three ways: universality, the importance of duty, and respect (McCartney & Parent, 2015).
Under deontological principles, Kant believed that the moral worth of
an action is determined by whether it can be rationally and consistently universalized. This ensures that moral principles are not contingent on individual desires or circumstances, but are based on reason and apply universally to all individuals. As a law enforcement officer, this means that laws and regulations should be designed and enforced consistently for all individuals without discrimination or exception. For example, if a law enforcement officer pulls an individual over they suspect is driving under the influence and realize
that it is a fellow law enforcement officer it is their duty to arrest them. While this may be difficult to do, they have a moral obligation to uphold they law impartially and without exception.
When becoming a law enforcement officer, under oath, they swear to
fulfill their duty (McCartney & Parent, 2015). Duty is a fundamental concept in law enforcement that encompasses a range of responsibilities and ethical obligations that law enforcement officers must uphold. One of the primary duties as a law enforcement officer is to protect and serve the public. Failing to fulfill this duty can have severe consequences for public safety. For instance, nearing the end of a shift a law enforcement officer witnesses a vehicle driving erratically. The officer, after a rather difficult and long shift, decides they aren't going to pull the individual over because they are too tired and don't want to risk having to work over time. By not pulling this car over, there is a chance that driver or other individuals on the road could potentially be hurt, severely injured, or worse.
Lastly, Kant believed that an individual should never be used as a means to an end and all individuals deserve respect (McCartney & Parent, 2015). Law enforcement officers should treat all individuals they encounter with dignity and respect, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, age, or socioeconomic status. There are times where law enforcement officers may be in a challenging or high-
pressure situation, but it's imperative that they maintain composure and remain respectful.
The application of deontological ethics can serve as a guiding principle for law enforcement officers that emphasizes the importance of duty, moral obligation, and the consistent application of laws. By adhering to deontological principles, law enforcement officers are able to justly and ethically fulfill their duties.
References:
Bird, O. A., & Duignan, B. (2023, September 4). Immanuel Kant. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Immanuel-Kant
Barrow, J. M., & Khandhar, P. B. (2023, August 8). Deontology - statpearls - NCBI bookshelf. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459296/
Cressman, C., Brown, A., & Kranak, J. (2019, December 9). Kantian deontology. Introduction to Philosophy Ethics. https://press.rebus.community/intro-to-phil-ethics/chapter/
kantian-deontology/
McCartney, S., & Parent, R. (2015). Ethics in law enforcement. Ethics in Law Enforcement. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/ethicslawenfor
cement/chapter/2-3-deontology/#:~:text=One%20example%20in
%20law%20enforcement,the%20wishes%20of%20the%20officer.
Xu, Z. X., & Ma, H. K. (2016). How can a deontological decision lead to moral behavior? the moderating role of moral identity. Journal of Business Ethics, 137(3), 537-549. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy2.apus.edu/10.1007/s10551-015-2576-6
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