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An encyclopedic website based on ABC TV show LOST
 
Category: Island Triage
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Kant
The theory of the Categorical Imperative
From Wikipedia:
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Quote:
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The categorical imperative is the philosophical concept central to the
moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant and to modern deontological ethics.
Kant introduced the concept in his Groundwork of the Metaphysic of
Morals. It is outlined here according to the arguments therein.
Kant defined an imperative as any proposition that declares a
certain kind of action (or inaction) to be necessary. A hypothetical
imperative would compel action under a particular circumstance: If I
wish to slake my thirst, then I must drink this lemonade. A categorical
imperative would denote an absolute, unconditional requirement that
exerts its authority in all circumstances, and is both required and
justified as an end in itself: I must not ever treat a person merely as
a means to some other end.
He expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the moral philosophy of
his day because he believed it could never surpass the level of
hypothetical imperatives. For example, a consequentialist standard
would indicate that murder is wrong because it does not maximize good
for the greatest number; but this would be irrelevant to someone who is
not interested in maximizing the good. Consequently, Kant argued,
hypothetical moral systems cannot persuade moral action or be regarded
as bases for moral judgments against others, because the imperatives
they are based on rely too heavily on subjective considerations.
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Relevance to LOST:
The idea of a Categorical Imperative has come up several times in LOST. In Tabula Rasa,
the marshal escorting Kate is dying a slow, painful death. Kate asks
Jack if can't put the marshal out of his misery, and Jack's response
is, "I saw your mug shot, Kate. I am not a murderer." Jack believes
killing the marshal to be morally wrong, in keeping with society's
general view that killing is wrong. Sawyer, however, shoots the
marshal, trying to ease his suffering. He believes letting the marshal
suffer is morally wrong. The marshal's suffering is the kind of
"subjective consideration" Kant believed would impede the use of a
Categorical Imperative, that is, a rule that must be followed in ALL
situations.
The concept of the Categorical Imperative also presented itself in Confidence Man,
where the castaways found themselves in a situation that might require
torturing another human being. Society in general looks at torture as
morally wrong, and as a Categorical Imperative, that would mean torture
was not justified under any circumstances. Shannon begins to have
asthma attacks, and Boone believes Sawyer as stolen her medication.
Sawyer hadn't taken the medication, but made no effort to dissuade Jack
and Sayid from believing that, for reasons that later become apparent.
Sayid and Jack are faced with a dilemma -- watch Shannon suffer, and
perhaps die, without her medication, or force Sawyer to give it to
them, by whatever means necessary. Again, the subjective consideration
of Shannon's life, versus society's view that torture is morally wrong,
impedes the easy application of a Categorical Imperative.
For more on Kant and the theory of Categorical Imperative - See Also:
Tabula Rasa Episode Guide
Confidence Man Episode Guide
The Greater Good Episode Guide
en.wikipedia.org/Immanuel_Kant#Kant.27s_moral_philosophy
en.wikipedia.org/Categorical_Imperative
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