Immanuel Kant was an 18th-century German philosopher. Kant developed several principles that can be used when making moral or ethical decisions. His philosophy, known as the categorical imperative, is based on the concept of duty to one central moral value. To implement the categorical imperative, Kant suggests the following: Universalize the principle. A principle used infrequently may seem to generate the greatest happiness. For example, "I will lie on my application to get a job" may result in increased happiness for the employee, and the employer may be quite delighted with this person as an employee. However, Kant suggested that the principle should be universalized as to what would happen if everyone acted in the same manner. If everyone lied on their application, there would be no net increase in happiness because employers would no longer trust or use an employee application. Therefore, lying is not ethical because when universalized it does not create more happiness. Kant's categorical imperative suggests that a choice is moral only if it can be universally used by everyone in similar circumstances. Humanity. Kant stated that people should always be kept in the highest regard when making decisions. People are not a means to an end. Rather, they are the "supreme limiting condition." In the case of Healthy Hannah, the principle of utility might suggest that the doctors should harvest Hannah's vital organs to create the most overall good. However, Kantian ethics would require that Hannah be treated with the greatest consideration and that we respect her humanity. Her life is a "supreme limiting condition." Kant's views differ from utilitarianism. Whereas the concept of utility focuses on the outcomes or result of decisions, by "universalizing the principle" as espoused by Kant, the decision is focused on the duties, rights, and constraints affecting the decision. For example, in the case of Healthy Hannah above, the decision whether to harvest her organs or to save her life is constrained by law and duty to professional standards. Even if the hospital and doctors were convinced that harvesting Hannah's organs created the most overall good, they are bound by law, professional standards, regulations, and other constraints. This theory of ethics is also referred to as deontology.
