Kantian ethics is one of the approaches that is deemed best in business ethics. According to this approach, an individual should never be used as a means to an end rather, as the end itself. The actions of an individual should be regarded as morally upright if driven by duty and responsibility and not because of the desire to act in a particular way. Moreover, the Kantian ethics dictate that the actions of an individual should be universal, meaning, should an individual be in similar shoes as the one in questions, he/she would perform or tackle a scenario in a similar way as the former. This paper is aimed at addressing the Kantian ethics meticulously while analyzing the actions of Adolf Hitler in light of the Kantian ethical codes of conduct.
The article of choice is that of Adolf Hitler in the book by Haugen Brenda called “Adolf Hitler: Dictator of Nazi Germany”. In summary, Adolf Hitler was the German dictatorial ruler who led the country from 1933 to 1944 called the Third Reich. Hitler murdered in cold blood six million Jews and others who were not of the Arian race. He viewed the Arian race as more superior and any other individual who did not belong to that race was eliminated because his perceptions put it that they were making the pure Arian race impure. Nevertheless, Hitler restored the damaged German economy and changed the constitution to suit his dictatorial regime, he conquered most parts of Europe and instigated the Second World War in Europe. He was eventually defeated by the Soviet Union in the East and ally Britain in the West(Haugen, 2006, P. 36).
In light with the Kantian Ethics, Adolf Hitler failed to act in a way that could be universally acceptable. Dictators are in born oppressors, and by 1933 there were several economies in the world that were not dictatorial. However, Hitler’s situation was not unique, even though he did wonderful things like restoring economic stability in Germany after the First World War, actions like murder of six million Jews were not universally acceptable. Equally peeving and gruesome is the fact that he absolved himself from guilt by relying on a baseless argument that the action of murder was meant to purify the Arian race. With regard to this, he used the Jews as a means to an end rather than the end itself. The actions of Hitler were driven by self-aggrandizement and selfishness rather than duty, which proves contrary to the Kantian ethical standards.
Conclusion
To sum up, Adolf Hitler’s actions were against the code of Kantian ethics hence morally unacceptable. Most of the things he did, were because they streamed from his thoughts and an inner feeling of selfishness. Hitler murdered six million Jews, changed the Nazi German constitution to fit to his rule, made the citizens swear allegiance to him as opposed to the country and its ruler. Put aptly, in a scale of ten, Hitler would be given a zero according to the Kantian ethics. He is simply a failure who the world will continue mourning his reign and existence.
Work cited
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Haugen, Brenda. Adolf Hitler: Dictator of Nazi Germany. Minneapolis, Minn: Compass Point Books, 2006. Print.
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