The moral worth of an action is determined by the intention behind it, not the consequences from "summary" of Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant
In evaluating the moral worth of an action, one must look beyond the outcomes or consequences of that action. According to Kant, it is the intention behind the action that truly determines its moral value. This means that even if an action leads to negative consequences, it may still be deemed morally praiseworthy if the intention behind it was good. Kant illustrates this point with the example of a shopkeeper who charges fair prices not out of a genuine sense of duty or respect for others, but simply to maintain a good reputation and attract more customers. Despite the positive consequences of fair pricing, Kant would argue that the moral worth of the shopkeeper's actions is diminished becau...
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