SProctor_KantianPerspective_January20
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Feb 20, 2024
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Uploaded by DoctorOstrich3994
Kantian Perspective
Shakema Proctor
Rasmussen University
Ethics Around the Globe
Aimellia Siemson
January 20, 2023
Contemporary moral issues range from specific moral problems to issues related to the use of torture in wartime
. A contemporary moral issue that I would like to discuss is same-sex marriage. I am currently a dominant woman in a same-sex marriage. I conceived our first child through artificial insemination and my wife is currently pregnant and is going through the process of carrying our second child. Immanuel Kant argues that human understanding is the source of the general laws of nature that structure all our experience; and that human reason gives itself the moral law, which is our basis for belief in God, freedom, and immortality
(Rohlf, 2020)
.
Kant began his ethical theory by arguing that the only virtue that can be unqualifiedly good is good will. No other virtue has this status because every other virtue can be used to achieve immoral ends (for example, the virtue of
loyalty
is not good if one is loyal to an evil person). The
good will
is unique in that it is always good and maintains its moral value even when it fails to achieve its moral intentions (Benn, 1998)
. For Kant,
good will
is a broader conception than a will that acts from duty. A will that acts from duty is distinguishable as one that overcomes obstacles to keep the moral law.
Kant has two forms of categorical imperative. One is to behave in such a way that a reasonable generalization of your action to a universal rule will benefit a generic person under this universal rule. The second is always to treat others as ends and not means. These two apply to same-sex marriages. Kant believes that you should only act the way that you would want everyone else in the world to act in the same way. I agree with this. I believe everyone should have the freedom to live in their truth and be with whomever they choose to find love with and marry that being. Kant also argued to respect a person’s autonomy and rationality. Help them achieve their happiness; if being married to the same sex is what makes you happy you shouldn’t
care about what anyone else may think.
Moral duty refers to a person’s sense of right and wrong and the obligation to act accordingly. There is no right or wrong when it comes to your happiness, you should be able to be happy walking down the street with your significant other the same way a heterosexual couple
can. A maxim is a general rule or plan that indicates what you intend to do, under the conditions that you wish to do it, and for the purpose or motive. Kant used maxims to test the morality of a person's actions. A maxim is good only if it can become a universal law without contradiction When it comes to same-sex marriage I think that it is a biased moral issue based on people's beliefs. Fortunately, my moral issue has been addressed legally. But my belief is why does my happiness affect you? On December 13, 2022, Public Law No:117-228 Respect for Marriage Act was passed. This act provides statutory support to same-sex and interracial marriages (Library of Congress, n.d.)
. No matter what we all do I believe that we should create a state of peace and harmony. My maxim has been universalized, satisfied, and fulfilled.
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References
Benn, P. (1998). Ethics. UCL Press.
Library of Congress. (n.d.). H.R.8404 - Respect for Marriage Act
. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8404
Rohlf, M. (2020, July 28). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
. Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant/