Answer to Question #295787 in History for Hilda

Question

Why should human beings moral?” there are different arguments provided by scholars and schools of thought. Among those arguments discuss and evaluate the argument that should be the foundation of humans morality from your own perspective? (maximum of 200 words)

Answer 1

It's long been controversial whether certain activities, such as lying for financial gain, are moral. With so many varied criteria and conceptions, determining what is moral, what is truly moral, and what is not is difficult. Furthermore, the cause or advantage for which we should be moral can be elusive at times. The ethical ideas of Immanuel Kant may provide an answer to the subject we're interested in. However, some of his core principles must be examined before the answer can be determined. Kant developed his ethical theory by first distinguishing between things that are good as a means and things that are intrinsically good or excellent in and of themselves. He saw a good will as the only thing that is good in and of itself, because its value is unrelated to the outcomes it will produce. Other positive deeds, on the other hand, such as courage, knowledge, or judgment, are valuable in many ways, yet they can be extremely harmful when utilized by a bad will. Kant believes that reason has the essential function of forming a good will, not as a means to some other aim, but as an end in itself. Human thinking ability is intended for the supreme condition, which Kant calls duty, not for making him happy because any other inclination would have served that aim more successfully.

Human beings are capable of true freedom because they are rational. When a person acts freely in conformity with the law of reason, he is fulfilling his responsibility. According to Kant, an action performed out of natural inclination, such as love or affection, is not ethically good. Only when someone acts without inclination and solely out of duty does his deed have true moral value. For example, if a grocer does not overcharge inexperienced clients because it is bad for business, he is operating in his own self-interest and is not deserving of moral acclaim. Only if he did it because it was his duty did he gain moral credit. It is a duty, according to Kant, to preserve one's life. If a destitute man, destitute and desirous of death, preserves his life without loving it, neither out of inclination or fear, then his conduct has moral value.