Kants Ethical Theory - Essay Example

Kant's Ethical Theory A. Immanuel Kant has earned the distinction in history of being the last major philosopher of the Enlightenment. His work captures the signature trademark of the Age of Enlightenment - a firm and deeply-entrenched belief in reason - but at the same time, he refused to be shackled by the strictures of his time. He rejects the belief of dogmatic philosophers like Leibniz and his followers that human reason could acquire knowledge of supersensible entities. Kant was more comfortable with the notion of secular morality and eschewed the idea propounded by Leibniz that religion was essential to establishing social order.

Metaphysics, according to Kant, could not provide empirical evidence of the supersensible, like God. Kant's disciples, such as Fichte, used his work as a springboard for German idealism, and he quickly condemned such for being too radical. The difference between autonomy and heteronomy is that an autonomous will is self-legislating while a heteronomous will is one where the acts of the self are directed by external rules. According to Kant, if an action is to be considered as genuine, then it should emanate from the self, or should be the result of autonomous will.

Kant's formulation of the categorical imperative is as follows: ""Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law." This means that when an individual decides to act a certain way as dictated by his autonomous will, he must aspire that such action will be the universal norm and that he is setting a rule for others to follow in the future. Adherence to categorical imperatives provides for autonomous ethical choice in the sense that human dignity is combined with universality, so that the product of each one's autonomous will shall at the same time be for oneself and for all.

To quote Kant, "A rational being belongs to the kingdom of ends as a member when he legislates in it universal laws while also being himself subject to these laws. He belongs to it as sovereign, when as legislator he is himslf subject to the will of no other." B. Yes, indeed, I believe that the ethical theory propounded by Kant is sound. Noteworthy is the famous example of Kant wherein someone borrows money in bad faith, knowing that he will be unable to repay it. Obviously, if this is to become a universal rule, then it is self-defeating because nobody would want to lend in the future.

Therefore, one has a perfect duty not to behave in this manner. In so doing, Kant crafts a formulation of immorality: that is, acting in a certain manner and wishing the rest of the world behaves in another manner. Another reason why I support Kant's position is not only for moral reasons but for practical reasons as well. It establishes social order, and aids in ensuring that certain patterns necessary for the orderly conducting of affairs are in place. People would try as much as possible to behave in a manner that complements how the rest of world works because the incentive is that he too shall be benefited if the world works properly.

It is human dignity that is at stake. To lift an excerpt from Kant's text, ""Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means."Source:Kant: The Moral Order. (2001). Philosophy Pages. Garth Kemerling. Available at www.philosophypages.com. Visited February 1, 2007.Kant's Ethics. (2002). Online Guide to Ethics and Moral Philosophy. Available at http://caae.phil.cmu.edu/Cavalier/80130/part1/sect4/Kant.html. Visited February 1, 2007.