ABSTRACT
Immanuel Kant’s theory of morality rejects this Humean doctrine. According to Kant, it is only sometimes true that actions are produced by the agent’s beliefs and desires. Kant thought that morality derives its authority from reason alone. Reason alone determines whether an action is right or wrong, regardless of the desires that people happen to have. Kant is undoubtedly correct in saying that knowing an individual’s motives is important in assessing some moral properties of an action. Kant says that the maxim the man is considering is to end one’s life if continuing to live would produce more pain than pleasure. Even though Kant predates the utilitarians, his theory seems designed to correct the defects present in utilitarianism. The idea of rights is a plausible corrective to the idea that every aspect of an individual’s life has to pass the test of maximizing the happiness of all.
