Abstract for the Kant in Asia International Conference

at Hong Kong Baptist University

20-23 May 2009

Zhu Huihui, “The Value and Dignity of Humanity in Kant's Philosophy”

Kant regards the ground of highest end in itself and that of all duties lie in the humanity in every person. We attempt to trace back to the foundation of axiology of Kant's practical philosophy, reflecting upon some authoritative academic achievement in the leading edge on Humanity Formula of Moral Law, and making some fresh interpretation from different viewpoints. The retroactive argument of Korsgaard and Allen Wood lacks a prerequisite, and Adrianne's psychologism is deficient in sound ground of taking human beings as the end in itself; actually Kant explains the sublimity and dignity of human beings through the freedom and agency embodied in autonomy by rational nature, and the formula can both deduce from Universal Law Formula and proved by exclusion. Thereupon Kant establishes the integration of individuality and universality of rational life, the unity of universality of dignity and openness in life's self-realization, and that of the value of self and value of others.

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