Kant's Ethics and the Homeless

Paper Summary:

A Kantian rule of ethics, one which follows universal law and the categorical imperative as seen in his work on the Metaphysics of Morals, is used in this paper to discuss the common problem of homelessness that plagues our society. Kantians would say that altruistic caring is our duty to the homeless based on the objective and end-before-means ethical principles laid down by his categorical imperative.

From the Paper:

"During his serious and sequestered life in Konigsberg, the 18th century German philosopher and ethicist, Immanuel Kant, laid down some very stringent and thought out moral principles. One of these, the categorical imperative, is defined in his groundbreaking work, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals. This principle is still taught and used by ethicists over two centuries later, and is a prime example of a strict ethical rule upon which Kant believed individuals in society should base their actions. The categorical imperative, in Kant's words is "namely, this: Act only on that maxim whereby thou canst at the same time will that it should become a universal law" (Kant 38). What Kant is arguing is that what is ethical cannot be subjective, cannot consider a means above an end, but must be selfless and objective."

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