Reference the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric for guidance on how your discussion will be evaluated.
Week Three Discussion
There is only one discussion this week. Your instructor will be choosing the discussion question and posting it as the first post in the discussion forum. The requirements for the discussion this week are a minimum of four posts on four separate days. The total combined word count for all of your posts, counted together, should be over 600 words. Be sure to answer all the questions in the prompt and to read any resources that are required to complete the discussion properly. In order to satisfy the posting requirements for the week, please complete your initial post by Day 3 (Thursday) and your other posts by Day 7 (Monday). We recommend that you get into the discussion early and spread out your posts over the course of the week. Be sure to reply to your classmates and instructor. Try to attempt to take the conversation further by examining their claims or arguments in more depth or responding to the posts that they make to you. Keep the discussion on target and try to analyze things in as much detail as you can.
Respond
Week 3 discussion: Kant
Instructor Larson
6/6/2015 6:10:34 AM
One of Kant’s ways of formulating (i.e., expressing in words) the Categorical Imperative says that “one should always treat humanity, whether in oneself or in another, always as an end and never merely as a means”. This is often called the “Formula of Humanity” (or sometimes the “Formula of the End-In-Itself”). Briefly explain in your own words what you think Kant means by that.
Consider a specific example from the world of business, either one that you have directly encountered or one you heard about, in which a company honored this principle, and consider an example in which a company failed to honor this principle. Be sure to clearly explain your example with respect to Kant’s theory, and refer to the other readings on business ethics when appropriate. If you find the example from a source on the Internet or in an article be sure to share that with your classmates. Discuss whether or not you believe that businesses could actually run according to a Kantian moral framework or if they must necessarily break Kant’s laws in order to function according to business principles (and elaborate whatever you understand as “business principles”).
How far should a company’s moral concerns range? To include concern for workers, those whom they purchase products from, potential consumers, people in general, etc.? How far do you consider the range of responsibility to extend?
P.S.:
Note that that stressing the only in Kant’s formula is important. The fact is that we must treat humans as “means” (this includes ourselves, too, remember) because that is necessary to actually do anything or work towards any sort of accomplishment. If we come together as a team to compete for a league championship, if I hire people to work for my company, if I am a student and take classes with an instructor, etc… then I am treating persons as means to help towards a goal. The important consideration is not to only use them as means, which would be to just see them as things to be used for an external purpose. Instead, I need to mind the dignity of the persons involved and respect their autonomy as participants, too.