On Kant's Idea of Humanity as an End in Itself

European Journal of Philosophy 24 (2):358-374 (2016)
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Abstract

Writers like Christine Korsgaard and Allen Wood understand Kant's idea of rational nature as an end in itself as a commitment to a substantive value. This makes it hard for them to explain the supposed equivalence between the universal law and humanity formulations of the categorical imperative, since the former does not appear to assert any substantive value. Nor is it easy for defenders of value-based readings to explain Kant's claim that the law-giving nature of practical reason makes all beings with practical reason regard the idea of a rational nature as an end in itself. This article seeks to replace these value-based readings with a reading of the idea of rational nature as an end that fits better with the overall argument of the Groundwork.

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original Nyholm, Sven (2013) "On Kant's Idea of Humanity as an End in Itself". European Journal of Philosophy 21(2):358-374

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Sven Nyholm
LMU Munich

Citations of this work

Humanity and personality – what, for Kant, is the source of moral normativity?Ido Geiger - 2023 - Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy 66 (4):565-588.
Kant's Universal Law Formula Revisited.Sven Nyholm - 2015 - Metaphilosophy 46 (2):280-299.
Do We Always Act on Maxims?Sven Nyholm - 2017 - Kantian Review 22 (2):233-255.
On Kant's Idea of Humanity as an End in Itself.Sven Nyholm - 2013 - European Journal of Philosophy 21 (2):358-374.
Zelfdoding en de waarde van een rationeel leven.Fleur Jongepier - 2018 - Algemeen Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Wijsbegeerte 110 (4):453-472.

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References found in this work

Duty and Desolation.Rae Langton - 1992 - Philosophy 67 (262):481 - 505.
Humanity as an End in Itself.Thomas E. Hill - 1980 - Ethics 91 (1):84 - 99.
Kant's Formula of Humanity.Christine Korsgaard - 1986 - Kant Studien 77 (1-4):183-202.
The Value of Rational Nature.Donald H. Regan - 2002 - Ethics 112 (2):267-291.

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