Kant’s principle of humanity is focused on upholding dignity and respect, which underpin morality. The principle advocates for the treatment of human beings as an end and not as a means. It is a comprehensive approach that applies to all autonomous and rational beings regardless of species (Shafer-Landau, 2014). The reason is that, similar to human beings, other organisms are deserving respect and dignity, which is where the problem arises. Most people assume that humanity holds a given aspect that leverages dignity and makes a given person worthy of respect (Shafer-Landau, 2014). Additionally, human beings believe that they are more deserving of respect than any other living creature. This brings to light a more defensible position or rather a self-interested prejudice as humans stride towards superiority.
However, Kant had a response to this issue that highlighted the fundamental approach behind his principle. He claimed that every organism is autonomous and rational in its way and that it is the differences in traits that make accord others special moral statuses. He held the opinion that rationality is what involved the use of reasons in the pursuance of given goals, being the determinant of whether such goals can be pursued in a morally acceptable way (Shafer-Landau, 2014). Eventually, Kant concluded his argument with the idea that only human beings had the power to engage in such complicated reasoning.
Nonetheless, on closer inspection, Kant’s theory holds a lot of vagueness. This is because the treatment of individuals as an end is an unclear idea, which makes it difficult to apply (Shafer-Landau, 2014). Additionally, the principal fails to make provisions for the determination of what people deserve. This is brought to the light with Kant’s views on justice, wherein he believes that justice should be achieved at all costs, which is to an extent a contravention of stipulated moral concerns (Shafer-Landau, 2014). Moreover, the assumption of autonomy is misguided since in most cases, human beings’ choices are necessitated, meaning that they lack control, which is a reflection of the lack of autonomy. Additionally, in his response, Kant does not explain why people lacking autonomy and rationality deserve dignity and respect (Shafer-Landau, 2014). Furthermore, he assumes that our actions’ morality depends on autonomous control, yet this is disputed by moral luck, which is critical in choices and judgments.
Reference
Shafer-Landau, R. (2014). The fundamentals of ethics (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.