Kantian Humanity as the Basis of All Values

How It Meets Key Challenges

Abstract

At least three bases of all values have been proposed over the centuries:  Kantian valuing of humanity, a sentimental account, and the valuing of life itself. If a single value consistently underlies all the other values, we should consider whether a “meta” basis itself is a value.  Perhaps, though, one of these bases of all values provides a way to end circularity. These meta prospects merits full, separate coverage. This article concentrates on Kantian humanity as the ultimate value. Such value-basis has received perhaps the greatest amount of coverage in recent philosophical literature. Part 1 analyses proposed arguments, prominently by Korsgaard and her critics. Part 2 goes into detail investigating the issue from five different critical perspectives: term-coherence; methodological, economic, social, and alternative-values. The intent is to assess Kantian concepts of humanity as value basis and, more broadly, to investigate the basing of all values solely upon the valuing of humanity. This article concludes that the Kantian-humanity value-basis cannot yet fulfil the needs of a value basis of all other values. Such shortfall calls for a particular “meta” philosophical angle.