Kantian Deontology: The Categorical Imperative

Kantian Deontology is a diverse and widely-accepted theory of ethics in which consequences of human actions do not matter. Instead, the theory focuses on intentions, acting from a sense to fulfill duty and how we treat one another. The core of Kantian Deontology is the Categorical Imperative, which is Immanuel Kant’s conclusive principle of morality. The Categorical Imperative has two forms, both of which are cited by Rachels & Rachels from Kant’s Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals. The second form of the Categorical Imperative is best supported by the evidence observed by Rachels & Rachels, which mandates that people treat one another only as an end, and never as a means. The tenth chapter in The Elements of Moral Philosophy breaks down

One objection in particular says that in some cases, treating people as a means is necessary to achieve larger ramifications. For an abstract example, consider that one person in the world has a genetic immunity to cancer, and a cure for cancer can be developed by harvesting this person’s organs. Clearly, killing the person to harvest his or her organs seems justified if a cure for cancer will be developed as a result. By the standard of Utilitarianism, choosing to kill the person would be ok because developing the cure for cancer produces the greatest amount of happiness. The humanity formulation would disagree by definition, as killing the person would be treating him or her as a means. This abstract example shows that the aforementioned objection is a reasonable point. To address this point, it should be understood that the humanity formulation of Kant’s Categorical Imperative does not have to held as the ultimate standard to live by without exception. Just as the laws of government have exceptions, so too can the humanity formulation have exceptions as well. The humanity formulation of Kant’s Categorical Imperative may be considered a moral framework for human beings to live