The 2002 film, Minority Report, seems to contain the aspects of a Kantian approach, but when analysing the movie in further detail, does it hold its place? The Pre-crime program punishes individuals for having the intent to murder another, even when the action does not take place. Kant elaborates his standards pertaining ethics in Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, where Pre-crime can be further understood. Minority Report takes place in the year 2054, crime is virtually eradicated from Washington D.C. due to the Precrime crew. The program uses three gifted humans, known as Pre-Cogs, to see in the future and predict crimes beforehand. John Anderton, the head of Precrime, believes that the system is flawless, however, the Pre-Cogs …show more content…
Kant’s first proposition is an action has moral worth only if it is done out of duty, such as when someone who has absolutely no interest in donating to the poor does so out of duty. His second proposition is that action has moral worth not because of its aim, but because of the maxim on which it is based, meaning that it would not matter if the intent failed, as long as the principle was good. His third proposition is that duty is the necessity of an action from respect for the law, such as if an individual is in an embarassing spot, they could will the lie, but not will the maxim to lie. Kant argues that everything is secretly done in self benefit, an example can be an individual helping another merely for the fulfilled feeling. Comparing Kantian aspects to Minority Report can be done with ease. Kant’s second proposition, that an action has moral worth because of its maxim, can be further understood in the Pre-crime stance. The Pre-crime organization is in place in order to stop murders. Individuals, such as Anderton, are sought out to be arrested before they even comprehend the crime. However, Kant would argue that the arrest is valid due to the fact that they are capable of such an intention, even if the act was not committed. Emotions are something people tend to little to no control on, which leads to crime of passion, or the red balls, being produced. These
The text “The Minority Report” by Philip K. Dick is a commentary on the concept of innocence and one’s freedom of choice. It is often said that stories change significantly when becoming movies. The movie by the same name Minority Report directed by Steven Spielberg is based off the same ideas and concept the unpredictability of life and choices. It is a prime example of how the short story and movie differ even if the basic concepts remain unchanged.
Minority Report is a 2002 science fiction film directed by renowned director Steven Spielberg and is set in the year 2054 in Washington, D. C. The film revolves around an elite law enforcing squad; Precrime. The Precrime Division uses three genetically altered humans called Pre-Cogs whom possesses special powers to see into the future and predict crimes beforehand. After each crime is foreseen and analyzed, Precrime police officers are sent to the crime location to apprehend the future murderers and place them under arrest. The future murderers are then put into a sleep state with a device called a "halo". Based on Minority Report, it suggests that humans are free willed beings and have the ability to alter the future that was
The movie Crash, a film that follows the individual lives of several people and how they all intertwine with one another, hints at the underlying issue of race and the unconscious bias that are hard wired in us. It also shows that racism is not a one way street, but that it travels in both directions and because of this many film critics gave it a high praise. In this paper I will examine how it relates back to the topics we have covered in class, like unconscious bias, racism, and police interactions.
Through his discussion of morals in the Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Immanuel Kant explores the question of whether a human being is capable of acting solely out of pure duty and if our actions hold true moral value. In passage 407, page 19, Kant proposes that if one were to look at past experiences, one cannot be certain that his or her rationalization for performing an action that conforms with duty could rest solely on moral grounds. In order to fully explain the core principle of moral theory, Kant distinguishes between key notions such as a priori and a posteriori, and hypothetical imperative vs. categorical imperative, in order to argue whether the actions of rational beings are actually moral or if they are only moral
This law of retaliation is taught throughout our entire childhood and applies universally. The golden rule of, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is just another way of phrasing this law. However, in order to prove the effectiveness of this law, we must apply to all circumstances in a situation. That’s when problems begin emerging. Questions about right and wrong, fair and unfair, just and unjust, and deciding who is to be the judge of the problems, are some of the troubles we face.
Another key strength to the theory is the concentration on motivation. The motive for which an individual acts has more validity then the unknown consequences that lie ahead. According to Kant we are motivated by our duty, and we know that motivation comes from an internal source. Motive provides substance to personal decisions and choices that are made. In order to feel a duty to react or act in a certain manner, an individual uses internal reasoning when making decisions. As moral agents who have the ability to reason Kant’s theory is right on the target. We will consciously make decisions by the things or factors that we are motivated by. I feel that it is safe to say that most people actions are guided by motives whether they are morally correct or not.
Kant’s philosophy was based around the theory that we have a moral unconditional obligation and duty that he calls the “Categorical Imperative.” He believes that an action must be done with a motive of this moral obligation, and if not done with this intention then the action would hold no moral value. Under this umbrella of the “Categorical Imperative” he presents three formulations that he believes to be about equal in importance, relevance, and could be tested towards any case. The first formulation known as the Formula of Universal Law consists of a methodical way to find out morality of actions. The second formulation is known as
Emmanuel Kant has three propositions of morality. One of the propositions is that in order to have moral worth, an action must be from a moral duty. The second proposition is that “action whether the action is in accord with duty has been done from duty or from some selfish purpose is easy”(Cahn 76). The third proposition is that “action accord with duty and the subject has in addition an immediate inclination to do the action”(Cahn 76). Each one of the propositions has a different distinct and they are connected to morality. There are several actions that can be done out of duty, while others can be done out of desire. Each one of these two are used to determine if it’s done in a moral way. Kant gives two examples, one example is about a self-interested shopkeeper and the other is a reluctant benefactor. In the self-interested shop keeper, the dealer is focused on having fixed prices for everyone. He needs the customers to keep coming
I’m going to talk in this assignment about the movie: Gone Baby Gone; which is an incredible, fresh, and real film, and its relation with Kant theory. In this movie characters are rich and alive; the story is compelling, surprising, and not at all predictable. Kant said that one must have a respect for the moral law that is expressed in the intention, and I think that Patrick’s intentions were good because he did not want for the kidnapped girl (Amanda) to be involved in a world of lies, and neither to reproach himself for hiding the real truth. Also he wanted to do the correct thing or decision based on the moral law, and it was the reason why he informed
Duty for Kant is the underlying role of morality. Our duty and intentions combine to form our will, and the only one thing in the world that is good is a good will. To act according to duty means we are acting according to principals, not according to the final outcome of our actions. Principals is another important factor in this theory, our actions must be congruent with principals that can be made universal. To be universal, the maxim must apply to absolutely everyone, everywhere, and anytime. Another stipulation in Kant’s theory is that we should never treat a person solely as a means to our own ends. It is morally wrong to use someone solely to enhance our own self-interest.
7. Kant’s ethics gives us firm standards that do not depend on results; it injects a humanistic element into moral decision making and stresses the importance of acting on principle and from a sense of duty. Critics, however, worry that (a) Kant’s view of moral worth is too restrictive, (b) the categorical imperative is not a sufficient test of right and wrong, and (c) distinguishing between treating people as means and respecting them as ends in themselves may be difficult in practice.
The Minority Report is a film that tries to stop crimes before they happen, with the enlistment of 3 teen pre-cogs. These pre-cogs predict future murders and the authorities swoop in and arrest the would-be murders, before they have the chance of committing the crime. Even thing goes great until Anderton, a cop played by Tom Cruise, is suspected. Written by Philip K. Dick and then turned to film by Steven Spielberg in 2002, the short story to film became a success. Though there are many differences between the book and the movie, one would think Steven Spielberg would not be able to grab audience’s attention, but with his skills, Spielberg went above and beyond all measures. Many times, novels to films end up being either a great hit
To say that once we know someone’s empirical character we can then predict their choices seems to imply that this person is not entirely free in his moral decisions. Once a person cultivates this empirical character it begins the precession of phenomenal factors that begin to enforce and encourage every single decision from then on. Once recognizing this it seems that Kant was seeking to find a way out of this observable fact. He then created the idea of the noumenal world. A world we cannot see, cannot feel, and cannot even grasp because it is outside of our intellect, seems rather suspicious to me. I do not consent to the ideas and insights he has subscribed on to the noumenal world, nor do I consent to the fact that there even is a noumenal
He persuasively unveils imperatives both universal and hypothetical, the elements of unconventional practical reason, and examples of extreme controversy that force people to consider situations from a previously unconsidered moral perspective; however, Kant’s initial moral work is not without its critique: ranging from
This analysis seeks to explicate the fundamental issues in Kant’s philosophy, which include duty and reason. The examination of the movie Gone Baby Gone is viewed in the context of morality, as it shows an escapade of child abduction. While doing so, one of the fundamental questions to address in this submission is the distinction between what is good, and that, which is morally right. In addressing this question, the maxims by Emmanuel Kant form the important part of this study.