sato tsutomu

The duty to be a good medical doctor is considered from a viewpoint of Kant's ethics. Consideration of this article is begun with the so-called "lie paper" of Kant. A consequentialism of utilitarianism in this paper is criticized as follows. Even if a goodness of means to lie is guaranteed by a goodness of an end to save a life of liar's friend, the connection between a means and an end is not necessary but rather contingency. A goodness of means is not always guaranteed. And an act which is performed out of duty is good by itself because the duty is affected with a sentiment. There are two kinds of duties, complete or incomplete. The former is legal duty, the latter virtuous. A virtuous act is recognized as an example that a man conducts morally, which is an expression of a moral law. This act is admirable and respectable because of an expression of a moral law. It compelles an observer to become good and to be a good doctor that a man observes those who conduct the virtuous act.