Q&A: Deontology
Deontology
Question
Hello. I heard that the Rabbi said he supports taking any step if it will lead to a solution regarding Hamas. Doesn’t the Rabbi subscribe to Kantian deontological morality? That is, that there are actions one does not do regardless of their consequences.
Answer
I certainly do. That’s why I think we should kill them and save ourselves regardless of the consequences. 🙂
And more seriously, the Kantian consideration itself deals with consequences (do what, as a general mode of conduct, will bring about the best results). The definition of the act of helping another is that the other person is helped. You can’t detach that from the result. True, an act of help should perhaps also be done in situations where the other person, by chance, will not actually be helped (there are such pathological situations), and still, the definition of helping as a good act is because of its consequences. See Column 122 and many others.