Final answer:
Peter Singer criticizes Kant for excluding sympathy and emotion from his ethical framework, which is based purely on reason and perfect duties like the categorical imperative. This has been opposed for ignoring the nuances of real-life situations and emotions like empathy which many other ethical theories consider essential.
Step-by-step explanation:
Peter Singer criticizes Immanuel Kant for removing the element of sympathy and emotion from ethics. Kant emphasized the use of reason in ethical decision-making, aiming to develop moral laws, such as the categorical imperative, that could be applied universally without relying on individual emotions or consequences of actions. This contrasts with other ethical theories that highlight the role of emotions, like compassion and empathy, in moral judgments. Feminists, for example, have critiqued Kant for this separation of emotion from rationality, arguing that it can ignore the specific circumstances that affect vulnerable groups.In essence, Kant's normative moral framework focuses on what he deems to be perfect duties, such as not lying or stealing, which he believes should be followed in all situations. He felt that reason alone should guide our moral duties, as opposed to emotion or personal sympathies. Critics like Singer believe that this approach is too restrictive, notably in complex situations where duties may conflict or where non-rational beings are concerned.