Explain how a philosopher, such as John Stuart Mill, might object to this part of Kant’s argument
In section 2 of the Grounding, Kant asks the following question: if the three propositions implicit in our common understanding of morality are to be legitimate, then what would have to be the case about the primary principle of morality that serves as the ultimate ground of our moral obligations? The first part of the argument is designed to give an analysis of the formal conditions contained in such a principle. His method, which is called the transcendental method, draws on the theory of logic as a basis for examining the possible formal features such a principle might have. Having considered the possibilities, Kant examines the options and eliminates those that are insufficient to legitimate the assumptions implicit in our common understanding of morality. After he argues that the form of the principle must be a categorical imperative, Kant then argues that the purpose of the principle can only be that our rational nature (i.e., what is most essential to our humanity) exists as an end in itself.
Start by developing a dialogue map of Kant’s arguments. As before, keep the map to one page and less than or equal to 20 nodes. In your paper, reconstruct the main premises in Kant’s argument that the principle must have the form of a categorical imperative and the end must be respect for the humanity in each person. Explain how those premisses fit together and how they support his conclusion. Work slowly and carefully as you identify each of the main premisses and then put them in an order that makes the best sense of the argument as a whole.
Explain how a philosopher, such as John Stuart Mill, might object to this part of Kant’s argument. Identify what you consider to be significant weakness in one of the premises or inferences leading up to the conclusion, and explain how the objection works. Finally, develop a response to the objection on Kant’s behalf and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the objection and the response. Be sure to locate the objection and response on the dialogue map. My suggestion is that use the dialogue map to develop an outline of the paper before writing the first draft. I also recommend that you spend about one and half pages reconstructing this part of Kant’s argument. Then, spend about three quarters of a page developing the objection and another three quarters of a page developing the response.