On Kant’s Doctrine Of Dignity

It is universally accepted in academic circles that so far Kant has been the most important thinker who paid much attention to human dignity and made great achievements in human dignity research. The research on human dignity is one important part of Kant’s Ethics and Politics, even constitutes their ultimate aim. However at present, there are but few scholars who research on the subject of Kant’s theory of dignity at home and abroad. As far as the results I have known are concerned, academic circles have not made overall and deep research on Kant’s theory of dignity. The most prominent problem is that the relation between Kant’s dignity concepts in Ethics and in Politics is separated and it arouses many misunderstandings about Kant’s view of dignity. Thus it is very important to study on the subject of Kant’s doctrine of dignity at present. By giving a overall and systematic explanation of Kant’s doctrine of dignity, emphatically by linking up the relation between the concept of dignity in Ethics and the concept of dignity in Politics and characterizing the integration of modernity and traditionality in Kant’s theory of dignity, this thesis tries to improve and perfect the research about Kant’s doctrine of dignity around dignity concept, enrich the research about human dignity, deepen the research about Kant’s Ethics and Politics and give some theoretical reference for all walks of life to defend human dignity.On the basis of hackling the theory origin and analyzing formation background of Kant’s doctrine of dignity, this thesis integrates Kant’s views on dignity’s meaning, ground, subject, principle and application into two parts, namely the basic theory of Kant’s doctrine of dignity and Kant on approaches to defend human’s dignity. The thesis brings about the important views of dignity in the history of human thought roughly to the time for clues and defines them respectively as rational view of dignity in the period of ancient Greece and Rome, divinity view of dignity in the medieval times, human’s view of dignity in Renaissance and right view of dignity since modern era. In terms of theory origin, Kant’s doctrine of dignity is the fusion of traditional elements and modern elements, in terms of formation background, it focuses on the permeability influence and stimulating effect of development of science and technology, Enlightenment, the particular situation where Kant had lived and draws three ultimate aims of Kant’s doctrine of dignity.The thesis inquires into the basic theory of Kant’s doctrine of dignity on the basis of dignity concept. It points out Kant’s dignity concept applies to all rational beings, gives some explanations on the question left by Kant about non-rational being. It clarifies that the meaning of dignity concept consists of two different aspects. One is rational being’s sublimity relative to the nature of all others, and the other is the absolute value and inner value of morality and humanity. By defining Kant’s sublimity, absolute value and inner value, it grasps Kant’s concept of dignity, analyzes and criticizes the common misunderstandings on Kant’s dignity concept highlighting the organic connection between Kant’s concepts of dignity in Ethics and in Politics and gives a preliminary defense for the charge of anthropocentrism confronting Kant. The thesis explores Kant’s basic train of thought about how to argue autonomy as the ground of dignity from the perspective of what makes human different from animal at two levels particularly pointing out that it is the possibility of autonomy but not the realized autonomy that makes the ground of dignity. It gives some accounts about how Kant argues the possibility of autonomy is universal. Then the thesis inquires into how Kant argues why to respect rational being and their morality unconditionally and points out that it is both because of pure reason’s demand and because of humanity’s inner preciousness in virtue of the possibility of morality. The latter depends on Kant’s successful argument of the absolute value of good will, but it demonstrates there lies enormous difficulties in Kant’s argument. At last it points out the common questioning and criticism in academic circles about Kant’s views on the ground of human dignity.The thesis explores the basic perspective of Kant to define dignity subject, points out that Kant excludes all external value, human’s animality and characters without good will as dignity subject and defines morality and humanity of his own conception as dignity subjects. It defines Kant’s morality concept as good will and defines Kant’s humanity as rational nature including the capacity to set ends and morality. It points out because morality is included in humanity, dignity subject can be defined as humanity, through which it defines humanity formula as dignity principle.It explains the meaning of end in itself and the meaning of means, emphasizes the essential differences between them are freedom and being determined, expounds the prescription of humanity formula through two commands and points out the fundamental norm on how to respect human unconditionally put forward by humanity formula is to regard everyone as free subject. It analyzes the significance of human formula in Kant’s categorical imperative ending with a conclusion, That is, to defend human’s dignity is to defend human’s freedom including external freedom and inner freedom, which are incorporated into Kant’ view of right dignity and Kant’s view of virtue dignity. In the exploration of view of right dignity, it defines Kant’s right concept and the ground of human’s dignity of right. For Kant to defend right dignity, ruling by law is the basic approach, justice is the highest value orientation and civil liberty, civil equality and civil independence are the concrete principles. It highlights how to uphold the principle of justice in the legislation and in the judicial process with pointing out that Kant’s view of justice can’t provide theory basis for those in a vulnerable position not because of law to defend their dignity. In the exploration of view of virtue dignity, it defines Kant’s virtue concept by emphasizing the unification of the principle of inner freedom and humanity law, explores respectively the virtues duties about how to respect humanity in one’s own person as end itself and how to respect humanity in other persons as end itself around humanity formula. In conclusion it points out according to Kant, to defend inner freedom makes it precondition to defend external freedom and to defend external freedom makes it ultimate aim to defend inner freedom; virtue is based on the law of justice, but the full realization of the law of justice depends on the formation of virtue of justice.