Kant and Gay Marriage Essays - 859 Words

Background All decisions we make are guided by an influenced belief or a maxim. A maxim is an individual rule that we use in our negotiations to steer our conduct. Maxims contain our principles and intentions; they point toward our general character. A solid and well intentioned maxim is universalizable. The precise significance of universalizability is contentious, but the most widespread interpretation is that the categorical imperative asks whether the maxim of your action could become one that everyone could act upon in similar circumstances. An irrational maxim is self-defeating, as it cannot be consistently willed with its intended goal; in other words, it cannot provide a rational guide for human action since it cannot in†¦show more content†¦Although this is not really true but could still be argued that as long as everyone had the right to be a homosexual the laws of Universalisation would stand to be true. Universalisation says that we should apply homosexuality as a maxim and apply it to everyone; however this would lead to a problem, as the continuation of the species would not occur. Of course, marriage does nothing to ensure people will in fact have children. We could however adjust this maxim for sexuality, however, this may be moving away from the absolutist nature of Kant’s categorical imperative. He also states that marriage is the only place in which sex may take place. However, were gay marriage to become legal Kant may approve. â€Å"Kant, renown for his 1781 work Critique of Pure Reason, has been criticized for being rigid and overly rational in his moral thinking, but others believe those aspects of his work are over played (Brunfield, 2011)†. Brunfield goes on to say My interpretation focuses on his attempts to view moral thinking as something thats not religious, she said. People often believe we should be moral because we will make god angry, but Kant thinks we should be moral because its the right thing to do (Brunfield, 2011). I am not so sure about these views, as Kant also believed that sex was debasing and unless constrained by marriage would allow one partner to treat anotherShow MoreRelatedEssay Utilitarian Kantian View on Same Sex Marraige961 Words   |  4 PagesRolbin Flores Assignment 4 Since 2001, same sex marriages have been big issues in the US and other countries like (Argentina, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Portugal, Mexico City, Spain, South Africa, and some regions within the United States). It is always a debate in the US based on the fact if we don’t allow same sex marriage, it affect our right constitutional demand of equality established by our founding fathers. Same sex couples been trying to get marriedRead MoreThe Doctrine Of The Divine Command Theory Essay1434 Words   |  6 Pagesmorally right? 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