Kantian Ethics and the Morality of Helping an Elderly Woman Cross the Road Essay

Introduction

The unethical nature of helping an elderly woman cross the road, according to Kant, can be seen from the context of his perception of morality.

Moral Worth and Obligation: The Necessity of Duty in Actions

One of the main aspects that Kant highlights is the proper duty to help those in need, which must be present in a person in order for their actions to be considered moral (Harvard University, 2009). This means that a boy carrying an elderly woman across the road should feel that this is his duty and calling and truly feel satisfaction from the action he performs. In this case, this action can be considered ethical, according to Kant.

Moral Value and the Maxim: The Principle Behind Ethical Actions

The moral value of an action must be determined by an imperative mandate that operates in the context of the universal value of the action for society and the fact that it is the norm (Harvard University, 2009). Thus, a person must act based on publicly available principles of good and not because he wants to look like a virtue in the eyes of others.

Obligation and Law: Acting Out of Respect for Moral Duty

The obligation parameter also plays a significant role in performing any action based on the overall benefit to the public. In addition, this should be regulated by laws that can push a person to take action. For example, if help is conditional on avoiding punishment for its absence or because of receiving personal gain, then, regardless of the result, it will not be possible to consider it a morally correct act (Harvard University, 2009).

Conclusion

The combination of the above factors indicates that moving an elderly woman across the road cannot be considered an ethical action since it was done out of a desire to appear kind and sensitive. In addition, for Kant, the moral value of an act should be determined by selflessness and a genuine sense of duty, which cannot be achieved without abstraction from society.

Reference

Harvard University. (2009). Justice: What’s the right thing to do? Episode 06: “Mind your motive” [Video]. YouTube. Web.