PHIL186 Paper 1 (1)
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Dec 6, 2023
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Paper 1: Kantian Deontology on Universal Basic Income
Department of Business, San Jose State University
PHIL-186 Section 91: Professional and Business Ethics
Professor
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Kantian deontology is a moral theory developed by philosopher Immanuel Kant, which
emphasizes the importance of following moral rules and principles, regardless of their
consequences. Kant believed that actions should be based on duty, rather than personal interests
or emotions (Salazar, 2008). With universal basic income (UBI) as a solution to low income,
Elon Musk and Richard Branson had shared their thoughts on increasing UBI due to the
advancement of technology. Furthermore, their ideas will be applied with the framework of
Kantian deontology.
In Heather Salazar's Kantian Business Ethics, she explains what Kantian deontology is
and explains its moral principles. Salazar notes that Kantian deontological theory provides a
system of decision-making that encourages respect for persons and rationality in human affairs.
She also highlights the Kantian principle of treating individuals as ends in themselves, rather
than as means to an end, stating that "Kant's second formulation of the categorical imperative
states that individuals must always be treated as ends in themselves, and never merely as means
to an end" (Salazar, 2008).
Moreover, Salazar emphasizes the importance of universalizability in
Kantian ethics, stating that "moral principles must be formulated in a way that can be universally
applied, without exception." This means that moral principles should be applicable to all
individuals, regardless of their personal circumstances or characteristics.
In an article from CNBC, titled "Virgin Group's Richard Branson on universal basic
income," features Richard Branson's perspective on UBI. Branson stated that "It's important that
people have a safety net" and that UBI "would allow people to live a decent life"(Clifford,
2018a).
He also expressed his belief that "there will be fewer and fewer jobs that a robot cannot
do," (Clifford, 2018a) and that UBI could help address the potential loss of jobs due to
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automation. Branson acknowledged that implementing UBI would require significant funding
but stated that it could be achieved through tax reform or other means. He emphasized the
importance of ensuring that people are not left behind in a rapidly changing economy and that
UBI could be a way to provide economic security for all.
When considering Richard Branson's views on universal basic income, we can apply
Kantian deontology by examining whether the concept of universal basic income can be
universalized without contradiction. Branson has said: "A basic income should be introduced in
Europe and in America…
With the acceleration of [artificial intelligence] and other new
technology… the work is changing fast" (Clifford, 2018a). From a Kantian perspective, the idea
of universal basic income can be seen as a moral imperative because it provides a means of
ensuring that everyone has access to basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare, which are
necessary for human dignity. Universal basic income can also be seen as a way of fulfilling the
categorical imperative because it could be universalized without contradiction. Branson also
mentions, “‘A lot of exciting new innovations are going to be created, which will generate a lot
of opportunities and a lot of wealth, but there is a real danger it could also reduce the amount of
jobs ‘“ (Clifford, 2018a). If everyone were to receive a basic income, this could be universalized
without contradiction because it would not be based on individual circumstances or personal
characteristics. It would be a universal principle that applies to all individuals equally.
Furthermore, it would be in line with the categorical imperative because it would treat every
individual as an end in themselves rather than a means to an end. The quote also relates to the
next article of Elon Musk’s take on UBI due to the amount of jobs being replaced by AI.
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In another article from CNBC, titled "Elon Musk: Automated jobs could make UBI cash
handouts necessary," discusses Elon Musk's views on the potential impact of automation on
employment and the need for a universal basic income (UBI). Musk stated that UBI “‘will be
necessary over time if AI [artificial intelligence] takes over most human jobs’” (Clifford, 2018b)
.
He further explained that the output of goods and services will be extremely high due to
automation, but that there will be fewer and fewer jobs that a robot cannot do better. This could
lead to a situation where the social safety net is unable to cope with the amount of displaced
workers (Clifford, 2018b). Musk believes that UBI would be necessary to support people who
lose their jobs due to automation and ensure that everyone has a basic level of income.
In the case of Musk's statement, it could be argued that he is expressing concern for the
well-being of workers who may be displaced by automation. By suggesting that UBI may be
necessary, he is proposing a way to provide a safety net for those who may be negatively
impacted by technological progress. This could be seen as consistent with the principle of
treating people as ends in themselves, since it shows concern for their welfare and dignity.
However, it could also be argued that Musk's statement raises some ethical concerns. For
example, some critics have argued that UBI may be seen as a way for the wealthy to absolve
themselves of responsibility for addressing inequality, rather than as a genuine solution to
economic problems. Additionally, some have suggested that UBI could lead to a society where
people are disincentivized to work, which could ultimately be harmful to individuals and society
as a whole.
Kantian deontology provides a valuable framework for understanding the moral
obligations of individuals and organizations. In the context of business ethics from Heather
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Salazar, it emphasizes the importance of respecting the inherent value of human beings and
acting in accordance with moral principles grounded in reason. In the context of UBI, Kantian
deontology can be seen as supporting the duty to ensure that people are not treated as mere
means to an end, and that their dignity and worth should be respected even in the face of
technological change of Richard Branson
and Elon Musk on UBI reflect the relevance of
Kantian deontology to contemporary debates surrounding economic inequality and job
displacement.
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References
Clifford, C. (2018a, July 2).
Billionaire Richard Branson: America should give out free cash to
fix income inequality
. CNBC. Retrieved March 18, 2023, from
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/02/virgin-groups-richard-branson-on-universal-basic-
income.html
Clifford, C. (2018b, June 18).
Elon Musk: Free cash handouts 'will be necessary' if robots take
humans' jobs
. CNBC. Retrieved March 18, 2023, from
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/18/elon-musk-automated-jobs-could-make-ubi-cash-
handouts-necessary.html
Salazar, H. (2008). Kantian Business Ethics. In
Business in Ethical Focus An Anthology
(1st ed.,
pp. 53-60). essay, Broadview Press.
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