Ethics and humanity in (post-)Kantian philosophy

Thesis

Bringing together work in ethics, political philosophy, and history of philosophy, the thesis examines the normative implications of the concept of humanity, arguing for a critical, egalitarian humanism that opposes hierarchies of moral standing among human beings while acknowledging our obligations to non-human animals. In the Introduction, I argue for a broad understanding of ‘humanism’ that captures a variety of different views, each with a different conception of the normative relevance of the notion of the human being. I then elucidate two problems for historically influential forms of humanism, namely that they have instituted unacceptable hierarchies among human beings and perpetuated a damaging anthropocentrism. I argue that instead of embracing anti-humanism, we should reform or rethink humanism in such a way that it avoids these difficulties. I then critically examine ethical conceptions of ‘the human’ in the work of four philosophers from apparently disparate traditions – Immanuel Kant, Martin Heidegger, Judith Butler, and Ludwig Wittgenstein. I argue that while neither Kantian humanism nor Heidegger’s anti-humanism can convincingly overcome the two problems explained in the Introduction, resources from Butler and Wittgenstein’s work can provide a new basis for a more attractive form of humanism that gives central place to the notion of bodily vulnerability and the need to acknowledge it.

Authors: Wearing, J

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-kkg9jqmwd
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: human being; anti-humanism; political philosophy; humanism; Post-Kantian Philosophy; Immanuel Kant; humanity; Martin Heidegger; Ludwig Wittgenstein; ethics; Judith Butler
• Subjects: Philosophy