For, they themselves are ends and to use them in this manner is degrading and a violation of the duty toward others. This principle seems intuitively correct. Within literature, daytime soap operas, and even every day life, there exists a recurring plot point of somebody becoming upset with another for “using them.” Whether it is for personal gain or any other ulterior motive, there is a sense there is something wrong with “using” another person. Yet, Kant runs into problems with his definition of what constitutes somebody worth this sort of consideration. By defining beings worthy of this moral consideration in terms of their rationality, Kant runs into the issue of marginal cases. Not all human beings can be considered rational in terms of reason and autonomy—some may be born with some sort of mental handicap, and others may grow senile from old age or disease. Yet, according to Kant’s definition of beings worthy of this moral consideration, neither of these cases can be considered “ends in themselves” and it would consequently be okay to use them as means to an
For, they themselves are ends and to use them in this manner is degrading and a violation of the duty toward others. This principle seems intuitively correct. Within literature, daytime soap operas, and even every day life, there exists a recurring plot point of somebody becoming upset with another for “using them.” Whether it is for personal gain or any other ulterior motive, there is a sense there is something wrong with “using” another person. Yet, Kant runs into problems with his definition of what constitutes somebody worth this sort of consideration. By defining beings worthy of this moral consideration in terms of their rationality, Kant runs into the issue of marginal cases. Not all human beings can be considered rational in terms of reason and autonomy—some may be born with some sort of mental handicap, and others may grow senile from old age or disease. Yet, according to Kant’s definition of beings worthy of this moral consideration, neither of these cases can be considered “ends in themselves” and it would consequently be okay to use them as means to an