• Home Page
  • The Formula Of Humanity In Kant's Moral Theory

The Formula Of Humanity In Kant's Moral Theory

Great Essays
Show More
ID: 300100796 Kantian Deontology is characterized by the view that persons that are rational moral agents have equal value as well as equal worth. This moral theory has four key themes including dignity, autonomy, rationality, and morality. Additionally, the formula of humanity and the formula of universal law are taken into account when making moral decisions; these formulas are a part of the categorical imperative. Kant developed this moral theory as a way to evaluate the motivation for a given action. This theory has many advantageous features that are a result of Kant 's focus on the above mentioned themes. However, these themes can also lead the theory to be restrictive and limiting especially in regards to what Kant would consider non-rational persons. Overall, Kantian deontology although, desirable for various reasons it does not protect segments of persons, this allows for immoral action towards those agents. Firstly, the aforementioned themes in this theory are dignity, autonomy, rationality, and morality. Dignity is considered an intrinsic value, in other words, dignity has …show more content…
The formula of humanity is treating people with dignity and autonomy and not as a mere means, which devalues them to the status of a thing. This formula 's main duty is a negative one, to not interfere in situations where an agent can exercise agency. In addition, a person requires positive rights – education, security, healthcare, etc; the ability to be autonomous. The formula of universal law basically states that we can evaluate the correctness of a person 's actions by what other rational agents would do in the same situation. At this stage of the moral theory a maxim is determined; it puts into focus what a person seeks, how they plan to achieve it, and the realization of an end. Both of these formula 's main goal is to determine how we treat rational

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    Categorical Imperative By Immanuel Kant
    • 2081 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Categorical Imperative By Immanuel Kant

    In the book, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Immanuel Kant lays out his theory for making moral decisions. Unlike many other philosophers, Kant focuses not on the consequences of actions, but on the maxim in which the action was performed; in addition, Kant also tries to find his moral theory a priori instead of through empirical experience. He attempts to formulate a theory grounded through pure reason in which he bases his moral law on something that has never been experienced before that we are able to imagine and strive towards. Kant’s theory circles around the idea of a Supreme Principle of Morality called the Categorical Imperative which encompasses the Formula of Universal Law and the Formula of Humanity; all of which I will…

    • 2081 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Ethical Issues Of Vaccination Essay
    • 838 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ethical Issues Of Vaccination Essay

    In 1796 Edward Jenner created the first vaccination for the major epidemic of smallpox. Since then vaccinations have been one of communal health’s greatest accomplishments. However, there is an ethical dilemma that lies within the realm of vaccinations; the autonomous decision of the person to become vaccinated versus the protection of a susceptible population. Vaccines have become readily available in most parts of the world, yet disputes about how suitable the requirements are for vaccinations, including legal mandates of vaccinations when a public health emergency arises and more consistently making children receive required vaccinations before entry into school are still continuing. In this paper it will be made clear what deontology and utilitarianism pose when it comes to becoming vaccinated, a legal issue pick a legal issue and the types of nursing implications that can be implied when the issues of vaccinations arise.…

    • 838 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Immanuel Kant Christian Ethics Summary
    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Immanuel Kant Christian Ethics Summary

    Provides a system for analyzing the key objectives of this book such as the background, key issues, and ethical arguments. Deontological response is inferred for analysis. Immanuel Kant is referred to the concept of the categorical imperative which there are no arguments that…

    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Kant's Moral Explanations
    • 2003 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Kant's Moral Explanations

    a person’s standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do. This essay intends point out the relevant aspects of moral theologians, Kant, Mill, Aristotle and Held and to answer the question of the best suited approach in resolving ethical problems and dilemmas. Kant I have found that Kant’s theory is the most complicated and confusing of the four. It was only made somewhat clear by the explanation in O’Neill’s reading.…

    • 2003 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    Essay On Kantian Deontology
    • 1915 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Essay On Kantian Deontology

    The following paper argues in favor of Aristotle’s virtue ethics over Kantian deontology. In Kantian deontology, to be ethical is to follow one’s duty by acting on only the rules which one can at the same time rationally will that those actions become universal laws, while in Aristotelian virtue ethics, to be ethical is to develop and internalize virtuous habits until one fully becomes virtuous themselves. In turn, the ethical question of ‘What should I do?’ that deontology asks becomes ‘What should I be?’ with virtue ethics, placing emphasis on internal motivations rather than external actions.…

    • 1915 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Kant's Universal Law, Law Of Nature, And Humanity Formulation
    • 1363 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Kant's Universal Law, Law Of Nature, And Humanity Formulation

    A categorical imperative is an unconditional moral obligation that is binding in all circumstances and is not dependent on a person’s inclination. It provides us with a way to evaluate whether an action is moral or not. There are three formulations to test a categorical imperative: the Formula of Universal Law (FUL), the Formula of the Law of Nature (FLN), and the Formula of Humanity as an End. The first formulation tests to see if a universalized maxim contradicts itself, and thus, cannot be universalized as a basis of action without causing confusion. The second formulation asks if an individual would choose to live in a world where the universalized maxim is followed at all times.…

    • 1363 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Moral Theory In Gone Baby Gone
    • 698 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Moral Theory In Gone Baby Gone

    “Gone Baby Gone” “Gone Baby Gone” is a mystery film masterfully directed by Ben Affleck, an actor and a screenwriter. The kidnapping story set in the criminal districts of Boston depicts the characters and their neighborhoods as backward and appalling. At the very beginning of the film, we find out that Amanda McCready, a little girl, has gone. Thus, her aunt and uncle decide to involve two private detectives, Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro, into the police investigation of the girl missing. Meanwhile, Amanda’s drug-addicted mother does not skip any episode of Jerry Springer Show, even though her child has disappeared.…

    • 698 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Utilitarianism: Jeremy Bentham And John Stuart Mill
    • 728 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Utilitarianism: Jeremy Bentham And John Stuart Mill

    Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill are considered founders of Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory where moral rightness is measured by what brings the most happiness to the most people. Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism because it is based on whether an action is morally justified by its consequences. Bentham and Mill differ in that Bentham reasoned that pleasure was measurable using hedons, units of pleasure, where actions with the highest score were the best action.…

    • 728 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Ethical Evaluation Of Kant's Theory
    • 1124 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Ethical Evaluation Of Kant's Theory

    In other words, all individuals must uphold an unconditional good, to do this, one must be a rational person. A key factor relating to Kant’s theory, is that an individual may not interfere with another’s’ goals or objectives that a person may have. In addition, Kant discusses the moral rules that all autonomous and rational…

    • 1124 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Analysis Of Kant's Principle Of Humanity
    • 1217 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Analysis Of Kant's Principle Of Humanity

    Philosophy’s goal is to find a theory that acts as a guideline on how we, as humans, should act. Before Kant’s theories, philosophers struggled to find a moral rule or principle on how we should act towards other humans. Nevertheless, Kant came up with the Principle of Humanity to act as a main principle on how we should treat humans. The Principle of Humanity states that humans should treat other beings as an end and never as a mere means. To understand this theory, we must understand what Kant means by treating someone as an end, and also what it means to treat another as a mere means.…

    • 1217 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Similarities Between Kant And David Hume
    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Similarities Between Kant And David Hume

    David Hume and Immanuel Kant are both known for their great contributions to moral philosophy. Hume who is mainly known for his empiricism, skepticism and naturalism and Kant who is best recognized for his great work in metaphysics, ethics and also for his contributions in others disciplines in the area of philosophy. Although they were both exceptional philosophers and gave stupendous apports, Hume and Kant agreed nor differed in various aspect and ideas. Hume believed and is mostly based on his empiricism which involves the theory of the mind. Hume’s empiricism consist in to affirm that the moral foundation is not in the reason but in the senses.…

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Kant's Theory Strengths And Weaknesses
    • 1255 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Kant's Theory Strengths And Weaknesses

    Moral philosophy tries to explain the difference between right and wrong so that people can make good decisions. However, finding out what makes an action right is not so easy. For this reason, several different theories have evolved while trying to explain this issue. One of those theories is deontology, or duty-defined morality. Probably the most famous and influential spokesman of this theory is Immanuel Kant.…

    • 1255 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Kant's Moral Theory Essay
    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Kant's Moral Theory Essay

    Kant’s moral theory is based on the fact that one’s action should be governed by a maxim that follows the purity of the will; the idea that one’s actions should be based on a will that aligns with duty and not on the consequences of one’s actions. In the contrary, rule utilitarianism is based on the consequences of one’s actions and how it impacts the overall happiness of the individuals involved. The following paper focuses on the ideas of duty ethics and utilitarian ethics; and how these ideas can be implemented in the case of James Liang. Kant believes that an act is morally acceptable when such an act perfectly aligns with one’s duty. Furthermore, he believed that all rational beings are obligated by the demands of duty.…

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    My Sister's Keeper Moral Analysis
    • 1649 Words
    • 7 Pages

    My Sister's Keeper Moral Analysis

    In the movie My Sister’s Keeper, Sara and Brian Breslin make the decision to conceive their daughter Ana through in vitro to donate compatible organs to their daughter Kate who suffers from acute promyelocytic leukemia. The ethical issue in this movie is the decision Ana’s parents made to go through with genetic pre-implementation with the specific goal of saving their older daughter Kate. The moral agent, Ana, faces moral obligations to save her sister by serving as an organ bank. She is at the center of an ethical dilemma as she has to decide what is best for her and her family.…

    • 1649 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Summary: Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative
    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Summary: Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative

    Kant was a deontologist and developed an unbreakable moral code that he called the “Categorical Imperative”. Kant characterized the Categorical Imperative as an objective, rationally necessary, and unconditional principle that people must…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2024 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  Cookie Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings