Question

1. Provide a detailed description of Kant’s 2nd formula of the Categorical Imperative. In your answer you need to define and differentiate between treating someone as an end versus treating someone merely as a means. Which did Kant Prefer? Why? Finally, what is your position on Kant's 2nd formula? You need to provide your reasoning for this portion of your answer.

Can anyone help me with this?? Please???

Answer 1

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher who opposed utilitarianism. According to him the rightness or wrongness of a deed does not depend on the consequences, but whether the duty is fulfilled or not. Kant's theory is a deontological moral theory. Kantian ethics believed in supreme principle of morality and they named as The Categorical imperatives.

• In the nursing perspective when we apply this theory it defines that as a health care personnel we have to provide holistic care because it is considered to be our duty. But the outcome is not a stipulated thing. Kant do not prefer treating someone as an end.

There are moralities and imperatives in this kant's theory. The terminologies we use are as following:

1. Imperative: command
2. Hypothetical imperative: a person follows the command based on their relevant desire
3. Categorical imperative: even if the desire would serve your interest, you won't commit that breach of morality. But then follow the right command.

Thus it states that morality must be based on Categorical imperative.

3 maxims.

• Universalisability which states that, “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.”
• Law of Nature which states that, “Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means to an end.”
• Kingdom of Ends states that, “every rational being must so act as if he were through his maxim always a legislating member in the universal kingdom of ends”

Application in nursing

1. Do your duty properly : duty to care
2. Have respect for person : autonomy
3. Conformity of our actions to actions expeccted of a legislator of laws: informed consent.