Philosophy - Categorical Imperative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Philosophy - Categorical Imperative - Essay ExampleSo what is a mere means? Is there a line, and when might we cross that line between a authorized means and mere means?Lets consider the prepareplace. It is quite clear that slavery is using some(prenominal)one as a mere means. Holding someone captive and resolveing to anothers ends is certainly using him or her as a mere means. Slavery is one extreme. One might say that at the other extreme is the free-lance(a) person who determines his or her own ends and purposes, who decides when and how much to work and at what projects. In between these two extremes are a vast number of different types of work situations.Kant says we use people as mere means when we determine their ends and purposes for them. Would involving the worker more in the decision-making process of work transform using them as a mere means to using them as a legitimate means?Have you ever worked or are you working now for minimum remuneration? At the time of this writing, minimum wage in America is about $5.35 per hour, in other words, $856 per month, and $9844 per year (with small variations in some states). Is the kind of conduct the wage could provide for the worker a relevant matter in determining a case of mere means?Does raising someones salary or giving them a Christmas bonus transform using them as a mere means into using them as a legitimate means? If yes, is there a salary level at which this transformation takes place?Think about the working conditions for many people earning a wage. It seems that some of the most repugnant jobs are actually the ones paid the leaststanding over a hot, greasy French fry station, hard manual labor, cleanup spot up others waste, etc. Is the degree that a job is repugnant a meaningful determinant for mere means? If poorly paid repugnant work is one of mere means, and if we raise the wage for repugnant