Personal Narrative: The Kantian Code Of Ethics

The earth is under threat. Aliens are coming from multiple light years away with one mission – to decimate humanity. They are a cruel race by nature, and they will not rest until they see violence enacted. Luckily, they have a stipulation that could save humanity – if I punch the person sitting next to me right in the face, they will relent their barrage. Specifically, the person to make this decision and take the action must me. Unfortunately for humanity, I live my life under a strict Kantian code of ethics. I struggle, because I recognize immediately that using someone as a means to an end is, to me, morally reprehensible. On the other hand, I am a human, and I instinctually begin to worry about my own safety. Thinking fast, I try to come up with a justification to shift my maxims. If I can just shift my maxims to allow me to punch this man in the face, I can potentially save myself, the every single …show more content…
According to Kant, using someone as a means to an end is reprehensible, because it takes away that person’s free will and decision making abilities. Taking advantage of somebody cuts them out of the decision making process, which deprives them of their humanity. If there is one great sin in the Kantian canon, it is stealing someone of their inherent human worth. That is truly a crime that no one should take away from another human being. To make that person a pawn in my own selfish desire to live would be a terrible crime. For the same reason that prostitution is illegal, and dog fighting is morally disgusting, using this man as my own personal punching bag would also be quite the crime. Even though I may be able to stop the incoming alien massacre, I will still have to live with the fact that I have not only caused someone physical pain, but I have also stolen this person of their rights of self-ownership as a human