Analysis Of Immanuel Kant's Moral Theory

In Immanuel Kant's moral theory, the consequences of an action do not determine its morality, but rather it is the intentionality and sense of duty that is felt before an action is done which determines a good moral conscience. Kant introduces this process of classifying what is moral through the categorical imperative which calls people to, “act only on that maxim whereby thou canst at the same time will that is should become a universal law” meaning that one ought to only act according to what they think humanity ought to act like in that particular situation (Kant 139). If one's actions and intentions do not coincide with the action under the universal law, then they are acting immorally. If one says, “I will not pay my debts whenever it’s in my interest …show more content…
According to Kant, one ought to treat humanity, “in every case as an end withal, never as means only” (143). Autonomy is what distinguishes humans as “ends” and not simply means. Autonomy explains that humans are self-governed beings with goals and motifs and to treat someone as an “end” signifies that a person’s goals and life are being valued and should not be exploited or used. In return, one should not exploit or use other humans for their own benefit as this would be an immoral action. When speaking of debt, the person who is not paying their debts is using the government and the economy as a means. They do not consider the fact that paying debts such as taxes and loans contribute to helping improve society over time. The government uses taxes in order to aid citizens in areas such as education, military, and human services while college tuition payments go towards paying professors, administrative costs, and for resources that will improve the quality of the institution. When one does not pay their debts, they are not participating in improving the institution, but rather preventing it from further