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One's "ends" are the objectives one is trying to accomplish. "Means" are what we do to get to those objectives. For example, if someone says, "My objective is to get into that house, and I will use any means to that end." he means that he will do anything to get in there.

We talk about "using" or "employing" means to achieve our goals, which means that words we associate with means are nouns: "I'll use a screwdriver", "I'll use my acting skills", "I'll employ the Vulcan Death Grip", and so on. Where these are concrete objects, like the screwdriver, we don't care what happens to them as long as they help achieve your goal. Many such objects are disposable.

We also sometimes talk about using people in this kind of context: "I'll employ a high-powered lawyer to get me out of jail", "I'll use this rich widow to get the money I need for my business", "I'll use a hostage to keep the police from capturing me." Now using people in this way may not mean they are disposable or even be to their detriment. The lawyer may profit from defending you. The rich widow may profit from her involvement in your business. The hostage may get away with his or her life. But not necessarily. And when you are using people this way, you don't care about what happens to them. It doesn't matter if the lawyer gets cheated out of his fee so long as he is successful in defending you; it doesn't matter if the widow is left penniless so long as your business is funded; it doesn't matter if the hostage dies so long as you get away from the police.

This is what is meant by treating people as means. It means using them like tools and disposing of them if necessary. But if you consider as one of your objectives the well-being of those people, then they become the end. That is what the quotation means, that to a moral agent the well-being of others is a goal in itself, and our dealing with people or other rational beings should be on this basis, rather than using them as tools to achieve other objectives.

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What does kant mean by always treat yourself and others as ends in themselves never just as a means?

Kant's principle means that individuals should not be manipulated or used solely for the benefit of others; they have inherent value and should be respected as such. It emphasizes the importance of treating people with dignity, as rational beings capable of making their own choices and deserving of respect.


How should human beings be treated in order to ensure they are always valued as ends in themselves and never reduced to mere means?

Human beings should be treated with respect, dignity, and consideration for their autonomy and intrinsic worth. They should never be exploited, manipulated, or used solely for the benefit of others. It is important to recognize their individuality, rights, and humanity in all interactions and decisions.


Immanuel Kant treat people as ends not means?

he said treat people as an ends. I think he means ends as an individual, but I disagree I think we should treat everyone as if they are fragments of a whole, but the problem is not everybody realizes we are a whole as we are pretty alienated.


What does it mean when someone refers to another person as rational?

When someone refers to another person as rational that means they are level-headed and that they think things through logically. Irrational person is someone who thinks nothing through and just acts impulsively.


What are the philosophycal beliefs of immanuel kant?

Immanuel Kant's philosophical beliefs centered around the idea of moral duty and human autonomy. He argued for the importance of reason and rationality in guiding ethical decision-making, and emphasized the concept of treating others as ends in themselves, rather than as a means to an end. Kant also promoted the idea of universal moral principles that apply to all rational beings.

Related Questions

What does kant mean by always treat yourself and others as ends in themselves never just as a means?

Kant's principle means that individuals should not be manipulated or used solely for the benefit of others; they have inherent value and should be respected as such. It emphasizes the importance of treating people with dignity, as rational beings capable of making their own choices and deserving of respect.


How should human beings be treated in order to ensure they are always valued as ends in themselves and never reduced to mere means?

Human beings should be treated with respect, dignity, and consideration for their autonomy and intrinsic worth. They should never be exploited, manipulated, or used solely for the benefit of others. It is important to recognize their individuality, rights, and humanity in all interactions and decisions.


On Kants view the moral community is composed of?

For Kant, the moral community is composed of rational beings, which includes all human beings capable of reasoning and making moral decisions based on the categorical imperative. This means that individuals have inherent worth and dignity, and should be treated as ends in themselves rather than means to an end. This forms the basis for ethical principles and the idea of universal moral duties.


To be treated in a dignified way means?

It means that patients should be treated respectfully and empathically. They shouldn't be patronized, minimized and condescended to.


When did Moses Maimonides say No illness which can be treated by diet should be treated by any other means?

Last thursday.


How would you put rational in a sentence?

Rational means to be reasonable or to have reason. Let us be reasonable/rational. He was rational in his desition.


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It means that living beings depend on other living beings.


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yes rational means repeating. same thing.


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