Question

comment on Kant's revolutionary idea that we simply shouldn't use another person for our own purpose/treat them as stepping stones/take advantage of them, because that is the same as disrespecting them. Imagine that being said at a time when the Declaration of Independence had just been written, but the abolition of slavery was still about 80 years in the future, and women's rights an additional 50 years! I'd like you to come up with a small, everyday example of someone taking advantage of someone else, and a substantial one (really horrendous disrespect). (The #MeToo phenomenon comes to mind...).

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) Certain real-life examples are common in the professional sphere. Women might be hired in an office and might even progress to a certain level. However, a woman is rarely hired to work in top positions.

The common excuse that is made by people is that women might eventually have children and that would entail lots of maternity leave. These leaves would be detrimental to the daily workings in a company.

Considering that male workers also take leave and are also susceptible to conditions that cause them to take leave, it is unfair that a woman might be overlooked for a hire. However, now, with the introduction of paternity leave, a man is equally likely to take leave at the birth of a child like a woman would.

These conditions might bring about a change in the prejudice that women generally face. Perhaps these excuses are more about unfair judgement than about paid leave. Both women and men should be judged based on their abilities and professional skills. They should not be judged based on the likelihood of the stages of anatomy or other frivolous variables.

According to Kant, one should treat others in a way that one would like to be treated. In other words, if you would like to be treated with kindness, it would be only right to treat a fellow human being with the same kindness. Since we are all of the same species, when we mistreat others, we make ourselves open to the same treatment. Such treatment concerning women in the workplace would be against the principles of Kant.