ipl-logo

Kant's Ethics: Jim Doesn T Kill The Indian Man

1207 Words5 Pages

As a Kantian, the ultimate goal is to focus on our maxims and not on how much pain or pleasure the act could possibly produce. So as a result, Kant would argue that Jim should not kill the Indian man, even if it would save the other Indian men. The reason why is because Kant does not believe in using people as mere means, it wouldn’t be considered a conceivable maxim, and it would be betraying a perfect duty. The definition of deontology is having the belief that you do what’s right because you have a moral duty. For Kant, his ethics are grounded on reason and pure reason alone. It is a matter of a priori vs a posteriori. A priori is knowing the truth of the judgement, regardless of empirical view. An example of a priori would be that a single …show more content…

“Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means…” (Kant 234). Jim would be using the one Indian man as a mere means to an end. To use them as a mere means is to involve them in a situation in “which they could not principle consent” (O’Neil 2). Even though it is stated that the villagers and the men against the wall are begging Jim to accept, it isn’t considered a principle consent if one has to be coerced to consent. Although we use people as means all the time, it is immoral to use them as mere means, which is take a subject and treat them as if they are an object that is only there to serve your interests. “Therefore, no one rational or autonomous creature should be treated as mere means for the enjoyment or even the happiness of another” (O’Neil 6). We have a perfect duty to others, and that includes not using them as mere means. In Kant’s eyes, Jim would be using the Indian as a mere means. The man would not be able to truly consent to an “offer he can’t refuse” (O’Neil 3). Kant values human life because they are rational beings. By coercion, it takes away the rationality in oneself. If a utilitarian were in this situation, it would mean achieving the greatest number of happiness, but Kant is focused on intentions rather than consequences. “It is conceivable

Show More
Related

Examples Of Sivilized In Huckleberry Finn

752 Words | 4 Pages

  He has written a letter to turn in Jim, but instead of going with the civilized way to go about life, he destroys the letter.   He decided that his own morals are stronger than his need/want to be like society.  

Read More

Huck Finn Character Development

727 Words | 3 Pages

And another of his most important events is to help Jim from dangers. Jim is a negro slave who escapes like him and seeing him as a friend, not a Negro slave, he learns from the past events that he loves and cares for others and tries to help

Read More

Huckleberry Finn Quote Analysis

498 Words | 2 Pages

Tom is more concerned with making getting Jim out into a challenge than actually getting him out quickly and safely, because Tom feels that, “‘there’s more honor in getting him out through a lot of difficulties and dangers.’” He is willing to make his life more dangerous just to attain honor. He also puts attaining honor before Jim’s well-being, demonstrating how he values an honorable reputation above the lives of others.

Read More

Examples Of Rejection In Huckleberry Finn

566 Words | 3 Pages

Tom’s actions are selfish and he was willing to put Jim in harm's way for enjoyment. “Turn him loose! He ain't no slave; he’s as free as any cretur that walks this earth. Old Miss Watson died two months ago, and she was ashamed she was ever going to sell him down the river, and said so; and she set him free in her will.” (Twain 217).

Read More

Comparing Kant's Categorical Imperative And John Stuart Mill

507 Words | 3 Pages

Kant also thought it was possible for pure reason to discover objective ethical truths. Kant believed that ethical truths must be categorical, universal, and be the product of reason. Kant’s categorical imperative states that a person should always act in such a way that they could will that act should be a universal law. This means that Kant thought that it was best to do the right thing, even if the person didn’t want to. This view of ethics focuses on what is right to do.

Read More

John Stuart Mill: The Train To The Right Killing One Person

417 Words | 2 Pages

I think I will divert the train to the right killing one person because one person is less important than five. Sometimes it is important to do what is right than what is morally good to do. The utilitarianism is a moral theory that gives happiness to the number of people in the society and it has been considered greatness, an action is morally appropriate if its outcomes lead to happiness and wrong if it results in sadness. I will begin by describing what Mill might do in the Trolley situation. Next, I will contrast what Kant might do in this situation and lastly, I will be also going to give my opinion on this Trolley situation.

Read More

Huck Finn Freedom Quotes

602 Words | 3 Pages

Jim deserved freedom just as much as any man, and thanks to the will he got

Read More

Symbolism In Fly Away Peter

1066 Words | 5 Pages

Jim’s emptiness and maturity prevails over his dangerous

Read More

Dubious Battle Jim Nolan Character Analysis

739 Words | 3 Pages

Mac badly beat the boy who was encouraged to burn the barn, but then felt remorse for doing so. Jim, on the other hand, thought that it was absolutely necessary for Mac to have beaten the boy and told him not to feel sorry for what he had done, because he did what he needed to. At this point, it is clear that Jim has changed. Mac even said “I’ve seen men like you before. I’m scared of ’em.

Read More

On A Supposed Right To Lie From Altruistic Motives Analysis

180 Words | 1 Pages

In his brief essay, “On a Supposed Right to Lie from Altruistic Motives”, Immanuel Kant emphasizes how essential it is to be truthful and how our duty to be truthful outweighs any other duties we have to ourselves to ourselves or to humanity. Altruistic can be described as a genuinely moral act. People who are altruistic take action for the benefit of others and deem other people’s interests more important than their own interests. Kant believes that people should always do what is right, no matter what the outcome holds. I affirm that Kant believes praising truthfulness above all other duties because he believes it is morally wrong to hurt the dignity of others.

Read More

Immanuel Kant's Theory Of Utilitarianism

1228 Words | 5 Pages

Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill are two of the most notable philosophers in normative ethics. This branch of ethics is based on moral standards that determine what is considered morally right and wrong. This paper will focus on Immanuel Kant’s theory of deontology and J.S. Mill’s theory of utilitarianism. While Mill takes a consequentialist approach, focused on the belief that actions are right if they are for the benefit of a majority, Kant is solely concerned with the nature of duty and obligation, regardless of the outcome. This paper will also reveal that Kantian ethics, in my opinion, is a better moral law to follow compared to the utilitarian position.

Read More

Moral Action In Groundhog Day

1069 Words | 5 Pages

He wanted to help people regardless of the result. For me, I would always consider doing whatever that gives good consequences, such as cheering up my friend. However, if it is for bad intentions, like I cheer up my friend to let them do things in my favor, it is immoral. On the other hand, if I do something for the right reasons, such as I tried to helped my friend to fix the car because I wanted to help, but the problem was not resolved at the end, my action would still be moral because although the result is bad, it started with a good reason. It is important for one to act with good intentions since one may “lives according to duty, but not from duty” because one might be acting for “a selfish purpose” (Kant 8).

Read More

Difference Between Utilitarianism And Kantianism

866 Words | 4 Pages

For example, your parents gave you present for your birthday but you don’t like it, in this situation not telling that you don’t like the present will give out maximum utility as it makes them happy. According to Kantianism, we should never treat anyone merely as a mean, which means that you should tell the truth even if it hurts other

Read More

Bribery In Kant's Categorical Imperative

742 Words | 3 Pages

To simplify this, a way to say this is to treat humanity as rational beings, and not as a thing. Basically says that if we treat someone as a thing/mean you are disrespecting him, and that’s morally wrong. For example, if a person bribes you, and you don’t have any options but to accept the bribe, then you are a human being capable of making your own decisions because someone is threatening causes you aren’t able to make your own independent decision. However, based on Kant’s theory, bribery is morally wrong

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

More about Kant's Ethics: Jim Doesn T Kill The Indian Man

Related Topics

Open Document