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

Philosophy - Categorical Imperative - Essay Example So what is a ‘mere’ means? Is there a line, and when might we cross that line between a ‘legitimate’ means and ‘mere’ means? Let’s consider the workplace. It is quite clear that slavery is using someone as a mere means. Holding someone captive and working to another’s 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 self-employed 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 wage? 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 life the wage could provide for the worker a relevant matter in determining a case of ‘mere’ means? Does raising someone’s 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 least—standing over a hot, greasy French fry station, hard manual labor, cleaning 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