Chan
Dr. Whitman
Phil 1301
1 May 2017 Kant Paper
Immanuel Kant was a man of knowledge and self-awareness. He was well known for the development of ethical formulas in his book Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals. One important formula that will be introduced is the Humanity formula. When using this formula, Kant explain why or why not drugs are bad for you and whether they go against the moral standards. In his book, Kant doesn’t necessarily state that drinking is terrible for you and is morally wrong. However, he does explain what the standards of drinking, self-harm, and intentions are.
Kant once explained to a group of students that “Drunkenness is the unnatural state of inability to organize sense impressions according to the …show more content…
His main point is that you should never be able to make an exception for yourself. Kant has no actual opinion against drinking or drugs, but that you indulge in such should not be something that you can justify doing. We are allowed to use objects as mere needs but not humans. Kant strictly states that “We are not mere objects that exist to be used by others. We are our own ends. We are rational and autonomous. We have the ability to set our own goals and work toward them (Kant 4:416) This imbues us with an absolute moral worth, which means that we should not be manipulate, or manipulate other autonomous agents for our own benefit”. Kant’s Second Categorical Imperative also explains that treating another autonomous agent as mere means to accomplish personal goals or interests is a violation. This is what differentiates between using drugs to accomplish a personal interest and using a human to accomplish a personal …show more content…
Paternalism is the action of limiting a person’s liberty that is meant for their own good. There are a few types of paternalism, Soft and hard, Pure and impure, and Moral and Welfare. Soft and hard paternalism is an action that is justified if the action was committed involuntary. Take the case of someone planning on robbing a bank, soft paternalism would be telling that person to not to kill himself. However, if that person is aware of the consequences that would affect the people around that person then we should allow him to do so (Kant 775). On the contrary, hard paternalism says that sometimes we are obligated as human beings to stop this person. Moral paternalism is saying that selling your kidney purely for money and that you will still be in good health, is not moral. Welfare paternalism would be if someone were to offer you $30,000 for your kidney, you should sell your kidney. It would be a win-win
Dr. Whitman
Phil 1301
1 May 2017 Kant Paper
Immanuel Kant was a man of knowledge and self-awareness. He was well known for the development of ethical formulas in his book Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals. One important formula that will be introduced is the Humanity formula. When using this formula, Kant explain why or why not drugs are bad for you and whether they go against the moral standards. In his book, Kant doesn’t necessarily state that drinking is terrible for you and is morally wrong. However, he does explain what the standards of drinking, self-harm, and intentions are.
Kant once explained to a group of students that “Drunkenness is the unnatural state of inability to organize sense impressions according to the …show more content…
His main point is that you should never be able to make an exception for yourself. Kant has no actual opinion against drinking or drugs, but that you indulge in such should not be something that you can justify doing. We are allowed to use objects as mere needs but not humans. Kant strictly states that “We are not mere objects that exist to be used by others. We are our own ends. We are rational and autonomous. We have the ability to set our own goals and work toward them (Kant 4:416) This imbues us with an absolute moral worth, which means that we should not be manipulate, or manipulate other autonomous agents for our own benefit”. Kant’s Second Categorical Imperative also explains that treating another autonomous agent as mere means to accomplish personal goals or interests is a violation. This is what differentiates between using drugs to accomplish a personal interest and using a human to accomplish a personal …show more content…
Paternalism is the action of limiting a person’s liberty that is meant for their own good. There are a few types of paternalism, Soft and hard, Pure and impure, and Moral and Welfare. Soft and hard paternalism is an action that is justified if the action was committed involuntary. Take the case of someone planning on robbing a bank, soft paternalism would be telling that person to not to kill himself. However, if that person is aware of the consequences that would affect the people around that person then we should allow him to do so (Kant 775). On the contrary, hard paternalism says that sometimes we are obligated as human beings to stop this person. Moral paternalism is saying that selling your kidney purely for money and that you will still be in good health, is not moral. Welfare paternalism would be if someone were to offer you $30,000 for your kidney, you should sell your kidney. It would be a win-win