ipl-logo

Immanuel Kant: The Formula Of Humanity

1797 Words8 Pages

When considering how best to apply a moral framework to one’s own life, it can be helpful to look to Immanuel Kant’s book, The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals to inform our actions. It is in this book that Kant develops his moral framework for all humans, and Kant introduces the ideas of a ‘supreme principle of morality’ and his famous ‘categorical imperative’. For the purpose of this paper, I will critically engage with Kant’s ideas surrounding the second formulation of the categorical imperative, the Formula of Humanity. I will begin by explaining what the supreme principle of morality is, and its relation to the Formula of Humanity. From this, I will offer an explanation as to why the Formula of Humanity is a plausible candidate …show more content…

The FH states. “So act that you use humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end, never merely as a means” (G 4:429). The idea behind the FH is that actions that are morally good contain in them an expression of respect for humanity as an end in itself, while morally bad actions do not contain this respect for humanity, and as such does not treat it as an end. It becomes important to recognize what it was that Kant meant when he was referring to ‘humanity’. Kant’s claims regarding humanity are not speciesist in favour of humans as one might interpret them, but rather is making a claim regarding a capacity for reason. It is through this rationality that an agent is able to identify and set ends for themselves, albeit Kant would probably have believed humans to be the only species capable of such …show more content…

They are: a case against suicide, a lying promise, developing one’s own talents, and helping others (G 4:430). I believe that Kant’s argument for the impermissibility of suicide to be especially strong. Kant says that a person who is contemplating committing suicide must ask of themself if that action is “consistent with the idea of humanity” (G 4:429). The idea here is that in choosing suicide, which is an autonomous choice, a person directs their humanity towards its own destruction. It is by allowing such violence against them that that person is showing disrespect towards their own rational nature. The action of suicide undermines the value assigned to the rational nature, and as a result vacates the grounds for making this choice in the first place. In choosing suicide, a person is treating their own life as merely a means to an end, and not as an end in itself (G

Show More
Related

  • Argumentative Essay: Oregon's Death With Dignity Law

    1554 Words  | 7 Pages

    In the classical world of Greece and Rome, suicide was glorified as a noble death. As early as the second century, Christian teaching condemned suicide, stating it violates the commandment, “Thou shall not kill”, suicide cannot be repented of and lastly, it’s cowardly” (“Suicide.” Encyclopedia of Religion and the Law in America).

    Read More

  • Responses To The Kantian Ethical Dilemma

    525 Words  | 3 Pages

    After all the reading and carefully thinking about what Mr. Lasken had requested from his physician it left me with the decision that Dr. Brody should not grant Mr. Lasken request to help end his life. In my discussion, I spoke about the Kantian Ethics and how it applies to the dilemma Dr. Brody was up against. To help end someone’s life purposely, regardless of their involvement, should not be done in the hands of someone else nor should anyone be placed in that situation. I considered both views, and found no favor into helping Mr. Lasken end his life and would be wrong on Dr. Brody behalf. As a physician you are sworn in by Hippocratic Oath and under that you are required in doing right by the patients; make sure all possible attempts

    Read More

  • Emptiness Charge In Kant's Moral Philosophy

    10244 Words  | 41 Pages

    Kant’s early view 2.2. The Critique of Pure Reason 2.3. The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals 2.4. The Critique of Practical Reason 2.5. The Metaphysics of Morals Chapter Three: Rethinking the Emptiness

    Read More

  • Immanuel Kant: An Age Of Enlightenment

    801 Words  | 4 Pages

    Kant defined this as private reason and considered it a necessity. Kant used an illustration of how catastrophic it would be in an office to question the appropriateness of an order rather than obeying it. The private use of reason was counterbalanced by an individual’s public use of reason. In this system of reason the individual takes upon the responsibility of an intellectual who “has complete freedom, indeed even the calling, to impart to the public all of his carefully considered and well-intentioned thoughts”. (Kant 3).

    Read More

  • Durkheim's Conception Of Society

    1671 Words  | 7 Pages

    Unless an individual is mentally ill, suicides are always a reaction to external factors. This is, according to Durkheim, because “when society is disturbed, either by a painful crisis or by fortunate, but too sudden transformations, it becomes provisionally incapable of exercising its function; hence those shape rises in the figures for suicide,” (Suicide, p. 276) in what might be indicative of the power instituted in society. Not only does this reflect the precarious role that autonomy plays in determining an individual’s wellbeing but also of their particular helplessness within the framework of society. Although one would assume that the rise of individualism

    Read More

  • Suicide In Sir Thomas Browne's Religio Medici

    512 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1642, Sir Thomas Browne used the word of “suicide” in his Religio Medici. As a physician and a philosopher, Sir Thomas Browne created the word “suicide” based on the Latin sui (of oneself) and caedere (to kill; as cited in DeLeo, Bertolote, & Lester, 2002). The meaning has stayed consistent for centuries. Silverman et al. (2007a) posit that suicide and suicide-related behaviors as ways of coping with or responding to life circumstances. Suicide is seen as a driving force for individuals to purposefully move toward desired outcomes such as to end psychological or emotional pain and to change the future social milieu (Silverman, Berman, Sanddal, O’Carroll, & Joiner, 2007b).

    Read More

  • Human Nature Is Good: Mengzi And Rousseau

    1208 Words  | 5 Pages

    Eric Li Phil 511 Prof. Tiwald 10/14/15 Human Nature is Good Human nature are hard to define, even philosophers are divided by it. In both eastern and western philosophy we have philosophers, Mengzi and Rousseau, who argued for human nature being good, and we have philosopher, Yang Zhu, who argues that human nature is bad. Mengzi in the bce taught that human nature is good, but people stray from it because they do not reflect on the four virtues they are born with. In addition, Rousseau, who is born after the bce, writes that human nature is good, but because of the development of society people have changed.

    Read More

  • Mencius Human Nature Analysis

    2266 Words  | 10 Pages

    This is a topic that has been debated amongst a number of philosophers throughout history, and in this paper we will be specifically looking at two chinese philosophers, Mencius and Xunzi. Although both of them are Confucian thinkers, they have seemingly contradictory ideas on whether human nature is inherently good or bad. The main aim of this paper

    Read More

  • Deontology Vs Utilitarianism

    1515 Words  | 7 Pages

    Decisions about right and wrong fill each and every day. Turmoil exists due to deciding if Deontology, where one acts based on the right motives, or if Utilitarianism, where one should act in a way that would produce the best results and consequences, should govern decisions and their morality. However, I believe Deontology, which is reason and duty based, serves as the superior way to dictate morality. In this paper, I will explain both the principles of Deontology and Utilitarianism, discuss the superior aspects of Deontology as compared to Utilitarianism, as well as grapple with objections to Deontology. While both ethical frameworks contain parts of ideologies that could be seen as valid, Kant’s theory on Deontology holistically remains

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay-Assisted Suicide

    586 Words  | 3 Pages

    People who committed suicide were in a state of immense despair; they could not see hope and find the courage to go on. They wanted to end their pain. At the same time, they might not realize that they were also being selfish.

    Read More

  • Emile Durkheim's Theory Of Suicide Essay

    2231 Words  | 9 Pages

    Moreover, it has been estimated that there are 8 to 25 attempted suicides for every 1 successful suicide (MedicineNet 2011). The shocking number of suicide attempts and deaths highlight the urgent necessity for prevention efforts. The purpose of this critical analysis will be to explore Emile Durkheim’s theory of suicide; early interpretations, literature review of the birth of the theory, impact of the theory and contemporary issues related to suicide, while exploring the current knowledge available on suicide, through an objective lens. ANALYSIS

    Read More

  • David Hume's Argument For The Moral Permissibility Of Suicide

    956 Words  | 4 Pages

    This essay shows that Hume believes that suicide can be defined as the killing of self that is intended to remove misery and which may or may not be morally justified. On the other hand, it also shows that Aquinas defines suicide as the intentional killing of self that is “contrary to self love, self perpetuation[, and] natural law” and which is morally impermissible. Simply all that Hume attempts to accomplish in his essay “Of Suicide” is to show that Aquinas is wrong and that suicide may be morally permissible in certain circumstances. Various philosophers over the past two

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Kant's Categorical Imperative

    1222 Words  | 5 Pages

    I hope to convince the reader that Kant’s Categorical Imperative is the better way to live a morally conscious life and more practical to follow as well. First I will briefly describe both Kant’s and Mill’s principles. Then I will go on to explain the advantages and disadvantages of both. Finally, I hope to provide a counterargument for some of Kant’s Categorical Imperatives downfalls. Kant states the Categorical Imperative as: "Act as if the maxim of your action were to become through your will and general natural law."

    Read More

  • Kant's Ethics Vs. Utilitarian Ethics

    1023 Words  | 5 Pages

    Hyejin Jang Professor Writing DED 8 April 2016. 4. 7. Kant’s ethics differs from utilitarian ethics both in its scope and in the precision with which it guides action. In The Categorical Imperative, Kant emphasizes that human autonomy is the essence of morality.

    Read More

  • Essay On Suicide Prevention

    1169 Words  | 5 Pages

    Over the years the issue of suicide has been slowly increasing. It is now the third leading cause of death among young people. The effects of suicide are tragic and felt long after the individual has taken their own life. Some people who consider suicide, however, never make a “serious” attempt at it. For every attempted suicide, there is said to be more than one person whose thought of suicide has never translated into an actual attempt.

    Read More

More about Immanuel Kant: The Formula Of Humanity

Open Document