We should never treat human beings merely as means but ...

We should never treat human beings merely as means but always as ends

What does it mean?

We sometimes treat people as means (as ‘objects’ of instrumental value)

Example: A waiter at a restaurant.

A postman delivering letters.

A teacher teaching students.

All of these persons deliver a service. They are a ‘resource’.

Treating such persons just as a ‘resource’ is not morally acceptable.

Such persons should not be treated ONLY as means because they render a service

but also as ENDS

… as ENDS mean that since we are humans, we are intrinsically valuable and should be respected.

It means that their value doesn't depend on whether the person is rendering a service (making other people's lives better) or not, but because we are valuable human beings in itself.

At a restaurant

Someone orders the waiter to hurry up and bring him a lemonade because he is very thirsty.

At a restaurant

Someone politely orders the waiter a lemonade using ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.

Treating the person (the waiter) simply as a means?

Treating the person (the waiter) not simply as means but also as ends?

Treating the person (the waiter) simply as a means?

Situation 1: The person is being rude in ordering and thus, treating the waiter simply as means to get him the lemonade.

Treating the person (the waiter) not simply as means but also as ends?

Situation 2: The person put the order in a mannerly way, respecting the waiter not simply as a means to get him the

lemonade but also as an ends because he is a human.

Write down four similar examples using the same situation to show a person being treated simply as a means, and another being treated not merely as a means but also as ends.

In life, you will run into two types of people:

a) those who treat people like people (treating as ends in themselves) and,

b) those who treat people as a means to getting what they want.

The people who treat people like people are the ones we want to surround ourselveswith and the ones we should ultimately aspire to be. These type of peoplelegitimately care about others, their success and their well-being, and that of theother people. These are often referred to as ‘virtuous persons’.

The idea of modelling the behaviour and virtue of those

people that we consider were virtuous is important. We

should aim to imitate their example and become virtuous

like they were and possibly to do what they did or display

the behaviour and attitudes that they showed.

In most areas of life there are people we want

to be like, for example football players such as

Christiano Ronaldo or musicians like Lady

Gaga. We try to model our lives and beliefs on

their lives and their examples. If you explore

how they perfected their abilities and aim to

use aspects of their skills and styles then you

could develop to become a better football

player or musician.

The list of virtuous people or people who showed virtues is

probably endless. We can see moral excellence amongst

people as diverse as Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Bob Geldof,

David Beckham and Angelina Jolie. They all have shown

important character traits or virtues in some form and they

provide an example for our own development and

progression in attaining the virtues. These people’s

examples can provide inspiration and guidance in situations

where difficult moral decisions need to be made.

The examples of virtuous people are not expected to beillustrations of perfect people, but they are a challenge for us toaspire to greater moral heights and to become the best that wepossibly can be.

One famous example of someone who showed the virtues ofcompassion and righteous anger in a large number and variety ofsituations was Diana, Princess of Wales. For example, take the workthat she did with the children dying from HIV and AIDS, or herendless campaigning to end the use of anti-personnel landmines.However, despite showing these virtues, it is possible to look at herexample in other parts of her life as less than virtuous. Despite this,people can look to the virtues that she did show – she can be aninspiration to people to become the best that they can be.