Freedom and the Source of Value: Korsgaard and Wood on Kant's Formula of Humanity

Abstract

This essay examines two interpretations of Kant's argument for the formula of humanity. Christine M. Korsgaard defends a constructivist reading of Kant's argument, maintaining that humans must view themselves as having absolute value because their power for rational choice confers value on their ends. Allen Wood, however, defends a realist interpretation of Kant's argument, maintaining that humans actually are absolutely valuable and that their choices do not confer value but rather reflect their understanding of how the objects of their choices fulfill their needs and wants and contribute to their flourishing. Though Korsgaard's reading is more consistent with Kant's prioritizing of the right over the good, this essay raises a metaethical question regarding her constructivist position, namely, ''What is meant by her claim that rational choice 'confers' value on objects?'' In developing this question, it presents a realist account of goodness that is taken from Peter Geach's ''Good and Evil.''

A Contractualist Reading of Kant's Proof of the Formula of Humanity

“…10 Korsgaard 1996a; Wood 1999Wood , 2008. For discussion and criticism see Arroyo 2011;Dean 2006;Denis 2007;Martin 2006;Bruton 2000;Kerstein 2002Kerstein , 2009Schneewind 1998. 11 Agent-relative reasons, as they are sometimes called, are reasons with an ineliminable back-reference to the agent who has the reason -that my brother needs money may be a reason for me to give him a loan but it may not be a reason for others to do sowhereas an agent-neutral reason is a reason with no such back-reference: that someone is in pain is a reason for anyone to help them (Pettit 1987;Parfit 1984;Nagel 1978).…”

“…10Korsgaard 1996a; Wood 1999, 2008. For discussion and criticism see Arroyo 2011; Dean 2006; Denis 2007; Martin 2006; Bruton 2000; Kerstein 2002, 2009; Schneewind 1998.…”

Too Much Information and Too Little Knowledge? An Attempt to Explain Findings From the Swedish Voucher System for Upper Secondary Education

“…It is from the same definition also clear that every individual has the moral foundation to make their own decisions, given that their autonomy is protected from coercion and indoctrination in a liberal political order (Beck, 2006, p. 374). Another consequence is that choice alternatives have no objective value, they are only given value through how we exercise our freedom to choose, based on our individual knowledge (Arroyo, 2011). …”