Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) Practice Exam

According to Kantianism, when is an act considered moral?

1. Based on human instincts

2. When it follows natural rights

3. If it creates the greatest good

4. When done to fulfill a duty

The correct answer is: When done to fulfill a duty

Kantianism is an ethical theory developed by Immanuel Kant that emphasizes the importance of duty and moral obligation. According to Kantianism, an act is considered moral when it is done out of a sense of duty, rather than based on consequences or desires. This is because Kant believed that moral actions are those guided by a sense of duty towards moral laws, which he called the categorical imperative. Therefore, the correct answer is when an act is done to fulfill a duty. Option A, based on human instincts, is not correct in the context of Kantianism as it focuses on the intention and motivation behind an action rather than instinctual impulses. Option B, when it follows natural rights, is not in line with Kantian ethics, which does not directly consider natural rights as the primary basis of morality. Option C, if it creates the greatest good, is more aligned with utilitarianism rather than Kantianism, as Kantian ethics is not solely based on the consequences or outcomes of an action.