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Kant’s “Idea” of Dignity. Value and Moral Elevation in the Groundlaying

  • Susan Meld Shell
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Kant’s Concept of Dignity
This chapter is in the book Kant’s Concept of Dignity

Abstract

As Oliver Sensen has convincingly argued (Sensen 2011), dignity in the Groundlaying applies, in the first instance, to a state of elevation associated with the moral law as the primary object of respect. At the same time, Kant also uses “dignity” to designate what he calls unconditional or inner value.¹ I will argue in what follows that there is no need to choose: moral dignity for Kant is both elevation and unconditional value, i. e., an inner worth, albeit one that can be represented adequately only through negative reference to that which it is “set infinitely above.” This conceptual complexity, as I will argue, renders it particularly well-suited to responding to the “natural dialectic” (GMS 4:392) that makes a philosophic “groundlaying” necessary at all (GMS 4:405); it also can help resolve a persistent conflict among Kant’s readers² between those who locate ultimate value in the moral law, and those who associate it with an “objective” end, such as freedom or humanity.

Abstract

As Oliver Sensen has convincingly argued (Sensen 2011), dignity in the Groundlaying applies, in the first instance, to a state of elevation associated with the moral law as the primary object of respect. At the same time, Kant also uses “dignity” to designate what he calls unconditional or inner value.¹ I will argue in what follows that there is no need to choose: moral dignity for Kant is both elevation and unconditional value, i. e., an inner worth, albeit one that can be represented adequately only through negative reference to that which it is “set infinitely above.” This conceptual complexity, as I will argue, renders it particularly well-suited to responding to the “natural dialectic” (GMS 4:392) that makes a philosophic “groundlaying” necessary at all (GMS 4:405); it also can help resolve a persistent conflict among Kant’s readers² between those who locate ultimate value in the moral law, and those who associate it with an “objective” end, such as freedom or humanity.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Acknowledgements V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Abbreviations of Kant’s Works IX
  5. Introduction 1
  6. Absoluteness and Contingency. Kant’s Use of the Concept of Dignity 11
  7. From Würde to Würde der Kreatur 31
  8. Kant’s Theory of Dignity: A Fitting-Attitude Analysis of a Value 49
  9. A Semi-Kantian Account of Dignity. Passing the Buck whilst Regulating Reasons for Human Rights 73
  10. Kantian Dignity Semantics. An unreliable Resource for Human Rights Culture 97
  11. The Moralization of Human Dignity in Kant’s Ethics 121
  12. Kant’s “Idea” of Dignity. Value and Moral Elevation in the Groundlaying 139
  13. How to Respect Someone’s Dignity 159
  14. The Kingdom of Ends as an Ideal and a Constraint on Moral Legislation 177
  15. In the Realm of Ends – Kant on Autonomy and Dignity 195
  16. End in Itself and Dignity 211
  17. The Heuristic Use of the Concept of Dignity in Kantian Philosophy 231
  18. The Fate of Dignity: How Words Matter 261
  19. The dignity of the state in Kant’s Doctrine of Right 283
  20. Kant on patriotism: ‘civic dignity’ and ‘way of thinking’ 303
  21. List of Contributors 325
  22. Index 327
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110661491-010

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Acknowledgements V
  3. Contents VII
  4. Abbreviations of Kant’s Works IX
  5. Introduction 1
  6. Absoluteness and Contingency. Kant’s Use of the Concept of Dignity 11
  7. From Würde to Würde der Kreatur 31
  8. Kant’s Theory of Dignity: A Fitting-Attitude Analysis of a Value 49
  9. A Semi-Kantian Account of Dignity. Passing the Buck whilst Regulating Reasons for Human Rights 73
  10. Kantian Dignity Semantics. An unreliable Resource for Human Rights Culture 97
  11. The Moralization of Human Dignity in Kant’s Ethics 121
  12. Kant’s “Idea” of Dignity. Value and Moral Elevation in the Groundlaying 139
  13. How to Respect Someone’s Dignity 159
  14. The Kingdom of Ends as an Ideal and a Constraint on Moral Legislation 177
  15. In the Realm of Ends – Kant on Autonomy and Dignity 195
  16. End in Itself and Dignity 211
  17. The Heuristic Use of the Concept of Dignity in Kantian Philosophy 231
  18. The Fate of Dignity: How Words Matter 261
  19. The dignity of the state in Kant’s Doctrine of Right 283
  20. Kant on patriotism: ‘civic dignity’ and ‘way of thinking’ 303
  21. List of Contributors 325
  22. Index 327
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