Reference no: EM133448774

Question

1. Imagine a World War II scenario in which German soldiers strap innocent people to the front of their tanks to dissuade Allied troops from firing on the vehicles. If the Allies hold their fire, their positions will be overrun, and hundreds of their troops will be killed. The Allied commander, however, gives the order for his troops to shoot at the tanks anyway, knowing that the civilians will perish. Should the Allies kill these innocents? What would Kant say? Why or why not? Do you agree with Kant? Why or why not?

2. In 1999, the dean of the Harvard Divinity School was fired from his university position because his office computer was found to contain pornography featuring sex between consenting adults. Otherwise, the dean's behavior was exemplary, and his job performance was considered by Harvard to be of the highest caliber. Would Kant have also fired the dean, or would he have refused to do so on the grounds that firing him based on facts about his private life would be treating him merely as a means? Why? Suppose Kant assumes that the dean's activities at the office were not part of his private life. What would Kant's verdict be then? Why? Do you agree with Kant? Why or why not?