Preview

What Is Kant's Idea Of Acting On A Principle

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
212 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
What Is Kant's Idea Of Acting On A Principle
Kant’s idea of acting on a principle has major protection and can ultimately lead to many positive things. To treat someone as an end is to treat them with dignity, respect, and as an individual. This also means that we don’t treat them with respect just to benefit ourselves.
However I think Kantian ethics weaknesses out-weigh the strengths. Treating humans as ends is a positive idea, in some circumstances humans have to be treated as means to an end for the majority to benefit. Yes the argument that this idea is strong because it declares basic, overall; (overall being the key word) human rights for the majority, however this theory does not claim that these general terms, how should we act in individual cases. This 'accessibility' also
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Religion and Bioethics: Physician Assisted Suicide, a Religious Perspective
    • 2205 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Religion and Bioethics: Physician Assisted Suicide, a Religious Perspective

    To followers of this theory the act itself must be morally right. It is for this reason that the deontological perspective would be considered one of ethical absolutism or objectivism, rather than ethical relativism. In this case, supporters of Kant’s theory would argue that there are moral rules which hold for all persons in all situations, and which allow for no exception. They might even take this…

    • 2205 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Surviving Famine: The Kantian Dilemma
    • 727 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Surviving Famine: The Kantian Dilemma

    Kant’s end in itself theory is stated by him, “Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means but always at the same time as an end.” This explains that if we use another person, whether directly or indirectly, in actions we make that we not just use them to get what we want in the end, our maxim, but also in way that also benefits their personal ends, or goals, also.…

    • 727 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Kant's Grounds for Metaphysics and Morality
    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Kant's Grounds for Metaphysics and Morality

    For example, Kant would agree that if a young male holds open doors for ladies because he likes holding doors open for women, he likes the response he receives from them for holding open the door, or even feels appreciated by his peers for his manners, his actions hold no moral value. His actions are being done to make someone else fell happy.…

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    “In order to protect the liberty of individuals, the role of the state should be minimal” Discuss this view.
    • 1562 Words
    • 7 Pages

    “In order to protect the liberty of individuals, the role of the state should be minimal” Discuss this view.

    In further development of the argument that the role of the state should be minimal, if one takes the stance of Kant in saying that “Human beings are ends in themselves”; it would therefore be logical to…

    • 1562 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Doing Bad To Do Good Final
    • 447 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Doing Bad To Do Good Final

    If Carolina decides to support the director’s belief ”do bad to do good”, the Kant principle would not apply. In the other hand applying the equity principle of distributive justice for the community would force them to start reporting their information correctly. Caroline was always known and chosen because of her reputation that she is been building all these time, by violating the code of conduct, it would affect her directly as well. These ethical problems exist at the organizational level.…

    • 447 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Ethics of Sub-Prime Lending
    • 1665 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Ethics of Sub-Prime Lending

    A Kantian standpoint does not look into consequences like the Utilitarian standpoint; instead it looks at categorical imperatives. According to founder Immanuel Kant, “the rightness or wrongness of actions does not depend on their consequences but on whether they fulfill their duty.” A Kantian belief is not based solely on what is for the greater good, but if something is seen as right or wrong to do. A good person is good because of the intentions that they have, whether enjoyable or not.…

    • 1665 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Kant's Argumentative Analysis
    • 195 Words
    • 1 Page

    Kant's Argumentative Analysis

    In order to discover what is moral or not, Kant believes that categorical imperative gives reasoning for any sort of action. In order to do so, one must think about the fundamental rule that goes in hand with what the person plans to fulfill in the first place. If a certain act can be applied to others and puts them in that exact situation, then it is moral. One concept of categorical imperative is known as “The Principle of Ends.” This theory describes individuals as worthy and valuable, depicting them as something worth more than a mere object. This pairs with the saying “treat others as you would like to be treated.” On a general status, I believe that this should be the correct thing to do. Concerning Kant, I disagree with his argument…

    • 195 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Kant's Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Moral
    • 809 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Kant's Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Moral

    actions should act only on the maxim, that actions have moral worth, and the end…

    • 809 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Kant's 'Hacking Into Harvard'
    • 325 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Kant's 'Hacking Into Harvard'

    According to the nonconsequentialist approach proposed by the German philosopher, Immanuel Kant, an action has moral worth if and if only, it stems from a sense of duty. Kantian ethics do not account for contingencies and possible consequences of actions. Moreover, the moral principles behind the actions must have universal applicability. In other words, it must be binding on all rational beings, irrespective of their personal desires and objectives. Another important dimension of Kant’s ethics disregards the treatment of humanity as a means to an end. Thus, Kant proposes that moral actions involve respecting humanity, both within and outside us (Shaw,…

    • 325 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Kant's Perspective on Lying
    • 530 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Kant's Perspective on Lying

    Kant believes humans have the highest value in the realm of existence because they are the only beings capable of reasoning. He extends this theory to say that humans have the right to use other creatures in any way they see fit as long as they are serving an end to justify the means. Kant perceives humans as the most valuable creatures because other “animals” are not able to have desires and set personal goals. Modern science invalidates some of Kant’s views because some animals do in fact have the mental capacity to express desire (however Kant was not aware of this). He thought that humans are entitled to respect each other and allow each other to act freely, utilizing the special tool of rational thinking that he believes is unique to the species.…

    • 530 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Non-Utilitarian Arguments Adjoin Ancestral And Human Discrimination
    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Non-Utilitarian Arguments Adjoin Ancestral And Human Discrimination

    Kantian approach for example, holds that human beings should be advised as ends and never as means. At a minimum, this assumption agency that alone has right to be treated as charge-less being according, to any added being and that all individuals accept a allusive moral duty to amusement alone as a charge-less and according person.…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Kant's Humanity Formula
    • 1663 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Kant's Humanity Formula

    "Few formulas in philosophy have been so widely accepted and variously interpreted as Kant's injunction to treat humanity as an end in itself"(Hill, 38). Immanuel Kant's views, as elucidated in his book, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, are based on the belief that "people count" by prohibiting actions which exploit other individuals in order for self-prosperity or altruistic ends. Ethics then, are confirmed by the dignity and worth of the rational agency of each person. Since human beings are the only rational beings capable of decision making and reasonable judgement, humanity must be valued. Kant proposes a test that ensures that humanity is treated with respect, and not used merely as an instrument. To understand how he defines this test, we must first take a look at the foundation of his main principle, the Categorical Imperative.…

    • 1663 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Kant Euthanasia
    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Kant Euthanasia

    In Deontology, the term itself leads us to the study of duty. 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.…

    • 483 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Spelman Vs Kant
    • 1358 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Spelman Vs Kant

    For instance “Treat humanity as an end is to respect it, which forms the basis of various perfect duties, including not coercing others, not lying, and not stealing. In another, more positive sense, treating humanity as an end means adopting it as an end to be perused. On this basis, we seek to encourage the ability to make rational and worthwhile choices in ourselves and others. This sense is the basis of various imperfect duties, including helping people and developing one’s mind” (Lacewing, Kant’s Categorical Imperative and Euthanasia). In short, everyone is valuable, and it is morally correct to treat people with value. Treating someone as a means, and not as an end means that you are using them solely for your benefit. Treating someone as a means is viewed as immoral, but there are relationships where someone is treated as a means, like corporate, or sexual…

    • 1358 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Kant's Theory Of Virtue Ethics Analysis
    • 338 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Kant's Theory Of Virtue Ethics Analysis

    According to Kant, “it is a person that is the source of value. A person is of infinite worth, and what a person has, what a person does, what a person believes, what a person enjoys are all dependent upon the person’s and the person’s autonomy. Kant says that the virtues themselves evenness of temper, patience, can be turned evil if they are used for evil” (O’ Sullivan & Pecorino, 2002). By the words of Kant it would seem that he believes that people have the ability to be good and bad but the choice between good or bad can be impacted by the moral beliefs and nature of the person. A person can decided to be bad if the make up of them or behavior favor morally bad behavior. Kant seems to be touching on an idea that order that caused for morally wrong actions should not be followed.…

    • 338 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics