Download Humanity Formulation

Kantian Ethics
Benjamin Visscher Hole IV
Phil 240, Intro to Ethical Theory
W5,L4
Agenda
1.
2.
3.
Discuss the covert consequentialism objection to the
Universal Law Formulation
Clicker Quiz
The Humanity Formulation
“[Kant] fails, almost grotesquely, to
show that there would be any
contradiction, any logical (not to say
physical) impossibility in the adoption
by all rational beings of the most
outrageously immoral rules of
conduct … All he shows is that the
consequences of their universal
adoption would be such as no one
would choose to incur”
(Utilitarianism, Ch. 3).
Is Kant guilty of covert
consequentialism?
Mill’s Criticism
The Covert Consequentialism
Objection
Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat
Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly
Disagree
A.
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The Universal Law Formulation of the CI: “Act only
according to that maxim by which you can at the same
time will that it should become a universal law of
nature.”
Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat
Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly
Disagree
A.
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CI, Humanity
Formulation
Kantian Ethics
According to the humanity formulation of the
categorical imperative, we should always act:
so as to treat humanity
as an end in itself.
B. so as to treat humanity
as a means.
C. so as to maximize the
well-being of humanity.
D. so as to put the
interests of humanity
before your own
interests.
E. all of the above.
F. none of the above.
A.
100%
0%
0%
0%
0%
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he
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in
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a.
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ize
an
it y
so
so
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ax
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so
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a.
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0%
Kant refers to a will that is determined by
things outside of itself as:
E.
F.
20%
0%
0%
0%
0%
d.
on
om
ou
co
s.
nt
ra
di
ct
or
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de
ba
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of
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ab
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D.
pe
lle
C.
80%
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r
B.
compelled.
heteronomous.
contradictory.
debased.
all of the above.
none of the
above.
co
m
A.
Kant believed that humans have
dignity by virtue of:
C.
D.
E.
F.
100%
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0%
0%
0%
0%
rm
em
th
be
ei
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in
gc
th
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ea
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fo
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in
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ya
nd
au
al
. ..
lo
ft
he
no
ab
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ov
of
e.
th
e
ab
ov
e.
B.
their membership in
the human species,
homo sapiens.
their being created
in the image of God.
their capacity for
kindness.
their rationality and
autonomy.
all of the above.
none of the above.
th
ei
A.
The Humanity
Formulation of the
Categorical Imperative
Kantian Ethics

“Act so that you treat humanity, whether
in your own person or in that of another,
always as an end and never as a means
only.”

“An action is right if and only if (and
because) the action treats persons
(including oneself) as an ends in
themselves and not as a mere means”
(Timmons, 16).
Humanity Formulation

“Act so that you treat humanity, whether
in your own person or in that of another,
always as an end and never as a means
only.”

“An action is right if and only if (and
because) the action treats persons
(including oneself) as an ends in
themselves and not as a mere means”
(Timmons, 16).
Clarifications
“mere” means?
Humanity =df Agency
Humanity Formulation

Agents can make
rules for themselves
(maxims).

This ability is known
as autonomy.
What is special about agency?
HETERONOMY
AUTONOMY
How does Kant compare to
Bentham?
Agency applies to all rational
beings …



“Act so that you treat humanity, whether
in your own person or in that of another,
always as an end and never as a means
only.”
Treating as a means: dealing with
someone so as to achieve your goals.
Treating as an end: treating someone
with the respect he or she deserves.
Humanity Formulation

“Act so that you treat humanity, whether
in your own person or in that of another,
always as an end and never as a means
only.”
Negative Aspect: “never as a mere
means”
 Positive Aspect: “always as an ends”

Humanity Formulation

“Act so that you treat humanity, whether in
your own person or in that of another,
always as an end and never as a means
only.”

Negative Aspect: “never as a mere means”
Standard violations




Deception
Coercion
Paternalism
Manipulation
Humanity Formulation

“Act so that you treat humanity, whether
in your own person or in that of another,
always as an end and never as a means
only.”

Positive Aspect: “always as an ends”
◦ Respect the ends of others
Humanity Formulation

“Act so that you treat humanity, whether in
your own person or in that of another,
always as an end and never as a means
only.”

Interpretations:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Personal Tone
Actual Consent
Hypothetical Consent
Possible Consent
*From Onora O’Neil
Humanity Formulation
Problems?
1. Personal Touch
Problems?
2. Actual Consent
3. Hypothetical
Consent
Problems?
Problems?
4. Possible Consent

“Act so that you treat humanity, whether in
your own person or in that of another, always
as an end and never as a means only.”

Interpretations:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Personal Tone
Actual Consent
Hypothetical Consent
Possible Consent?
*From Onora O’Neil
Humanity Formulation
Problems for the Principle of
Humanity
The Basic Problem
 The notion of treating someone as an end is
vague, and so the principle is difficult to
apply.

The principle fails to give us good advice
about how to determine what people
deserve.
The vagueness of treating people as
ends in themselves is a big problem.
Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat
Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly
Disagree
A.
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Autonomy Objection
The principle assumes
that the morality of our
actions depends only on
what we can
autonomously control,
but the existence of
moral luck calls this into
question.
Moral luck: cases in which
the morality of an action
depends on factors
outside of our control.
Autonomy Objection
The principle assumes that we are
genuinely autonomous, but that
assumption may be false.
1) Either our choices are necessitated, or they
are not.
2) If they are necessitated, then they are out of
our control, and so we lack autonomy.
3) If they are not necessitated, then they are
random, and so we lack autonomy.
4) Therefore, we lack autonomy.
Autonomy Objection
Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat
Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly
Disagree
A.
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Humanity applies to all rational
beings …
But not to non-rational beings …
The Moral Standing Objection
The principle cannot explain why those who
lack rationality and autonomy are deserving
of respect.
1) If the principle of humanity is true, then animals
have no rights.
2) If animals have no rights, then it is morally
acceptable to torture them.
3) Therefore, if the principle of humanity is true, then
it is morally acceptable to torture animals.
4) It isn’t morally acceptable to torture animals!
5) Therefore, the principle of humanity is false.
The Moral Standing Objection
Strongly Agree
B. Agree
C. Somewhat Agree
D. Neutral
E. Somewhat
Disagree
F. Disagree
G. Strongly
Disagree
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