1. Benjamin Visscher Hole IV Phil 240, Intro to Ethical Theory W5,L4
Kantian Ethics
Benjamin Visscher Hole IV
Phil 240, Intro to Ethical Theory
W5,L4

2. Agenda
Discuss the covert consequentialism objection to the Universal Law Formulation
Clicker Quiz
The Humanity Formulation

3. “[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

4. The Covert Consequentialism Objection
Strongly Agree
Agree
Somewhat Agree
Neutral
Somewhat Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

5. Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral Somewhat Disagree Disagree
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
Agree
Somewhat Agree
Neutral
Somewhat Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

6. CI, Humanity Formulation
Kantian Ethics

7. According to the humanity formulation of the categorical imperative, we should always act:
so as to treat humanity as an end in itself.
so as to treat humanity as a means.
so as to maximize the well-being of humanity.
so as to put the interests of humanity before your own interests.
all of the above.
none of the above.

8. compelled. heteronomous. contradictory. debased. all of the above.
Kant refers to a will that is determined by things outside of itself as:
compelled.
heteronomous.
contradictory.
debased.
all of the above.
none of the above.

9. Kant believed that humans have dignity by virtue of:
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.

10. The Humanity Formulation of the Categorical Imperative
Kantian Ethics

11. “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

12. “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

13. What is special about agency?
Agents can make rules for themselves (maxims).
This ability is known as autonomy.
What is special about agency?

14. How does Kant compare to Bentham?
HETERONOMY
AUTONOMY
How does Kant compare to Bentham?

15. Agency applies to all rational beings …

16. “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

17. “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

18. “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

19. “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

20. “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:
Personal Tone
Actual Consent
Hypothetical Consent
Possible Consent
*From Onora O’Neil
Humanity Formulation

21. Problems?
1. Personal Touch

22. Problems?
2. Actual Consent

23. 3. Hypothetical Consent
Problems?

24. Problems?
4. Possible Consent

25. “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:
Personal Tone
Actual Consent
Hypothetical Consent
Possible Consent?
*From Onora O’Neil
Humanity Formulation

26. 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.

27. Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral Somewhat Disagree Disagree
The vagueness of treating people as ends in themselves is a big problem.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Somewhat Agree
Neutral
Somewhat Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

28. 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.

29. Autonomy Objection
The principle assumes that we are genuinely autonomous, but that assumption may be false.
Either our choices are necessitated, or they are not.
If they are necessitated, then they are out of our control, and so we lack autonomy.
If they are not necessitated, then they are random, and so we lack autonomy.
Therefore, we lack autonomy.

30. Autonomy Objection Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral
Somewhat Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

31. Humanity applies to all rational beings …

32. But not to non-rational beings …

33. The Moral Standing Objection
The principle cannot explain why those who lack rationality and autonomy are deserving of respect.
If the principle of humanity is true, then animals have no rights.
If animals have no rights, then it is morally acceptable to torture them.
Therefore, if the principle of humanity is true, then it is morally acceptable to torture animals.
It isn’t morally acceptable to torture animals!
Therefore, the principle of humanity is false.

34. The Moral Standing Objection
Strongly Agree
Agree
Somewhat Agree
Neutral
Somewhat Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree