Something human beings are duty bound to do whatever the
circumstances
1.
Universalisation
For his action to be morally valid...the person would have to
be sure that in the exact same situation any other human
being would do the same action, before doing the action
"So act that the Maxim of your will could always
hold at the same time as a principle of establishing
universal law"
2. Human as
ends
For Kant a moral code must treat humans with respect and
not just as a means to an end
He regarded humanity as the highest point in GOD's creation,
intelligent rational beings with human rights
Kant was against exploitation and therefore would be
against human slavery. Not using human being as only
a means even if it would result in some overall greater
good.
Kant did agree with using people as a means e.g. using the doctor to
treat an illness
Act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or
in the person of any other never simply as a means but always at the same time
as an end
3. The Kingdom of
Ends
"Act as if a legislating member in the universal kingdom of
ends"
Your moral choices should be compatible with a society of free and autonomous moral agents. On the
assumption that others would also act morally and treat everyone as 'ends' not 'means'. Everyone is treated as
an 'end' not as a 'means'
Is a test to determine whether your
desires are moral or not