Friday, February 20, 2015
Friends and Acquaintances
According to Kant, the second formulation of the categorical imperative is to treat a person as an end unto itself, rather than as a means to an end. While the most extreme form of using people as a "means to an end" is slavery, it occurs in every day in less extreme examples. While these examples can include calling a repairman to fix something, or seeing a doctor to get well, it also occurs when we use other people to network. How often is it said, "It's not what you know, but who you know." And this is true. There are so many situations where this is helpful--getting an interview with a company because you know someone that works there or using a recommendation letter written by an alumni of the college you want to attend. These kind of things happen all the time and it does give a person an edge to getting a job or internship. While having good credentials is important, being able to meet the person in charge or having someone who has some "pull" put in a good word for you can go a long way. While I do agree with Kant that we should not use people as a "means to an end" to the point that we treat a person unkindly, I do not think there is anything wrong with using "connections." While you may already be friends with a person and see your friendship as an end unto itself, there are many times when you meet a person and you do not automatically become friends with that person. While you should still be kind to that person, I do not think you need to become good friends with everyone you meet. I think this is the difference between a friend and an acquaintance. With a friend, you see that relationship as an end unto itself. With an acquaintance, you know that person, but you don't view them and their friendship as an end.
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I completely agree with this post. I believe that even though you are getting help from someone that can help push you along or obtain something that you would like doesn't mean that you are using someone as a means to an end.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely, knowing people goes a long way in this day and age. And if you don't know how to fix something, you should call someone who does, otherwise you can further hurt your problem. And no you should not use someone and then never talk to them again; but unfortunately we live in an era where you can barely make it far in places if you don't know people. You always need a reference or a recommendation from others who have power in that particular field. Sometimes you can work hard and be smarter than others and more qualified, but if you don't know people you can't move up even if you deserve it. But yes, you should never use people, you should always be kind to others.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, but I do also think people can and do use others as a means to an end (more often than it should in my opinion) and rid themselves of them once they have gotten what they wanted from the person; For an extreme example, a young, attractive young woman dating a lonely and very wealthy old man just for the money and everything that comes along with it. However, your example is perfect and I completely agree with your example of using personal connections to land an interview, because you are not looking to end your relationship with that person.
ReplyDeleteI don't think using connections to get an interview or a job should be seen as using someone, but just as being smart. You still stand on your own merit as far as job qualifications and interviewing well. But if you use a person to get you the job itself and then don't thank them or do the job well, you could be using them as a means to an end or for only your benefit.
ReplyDeleteI like how you mentioned that it isn't wrong to use the "connections" we have in order to obtain something we want. I don't think Kant's second formulations would last in the 21st century because times have changed and certain acts that one could use another as means to an end, such as slavery, is abolished by law. Nowadays we use our "connections" and the morally good people will return the use of those connections with favors. Kind of like a "I scratch your back and you scratch mine" theory.
ReplyDeleteIt is about a person agenda and motives. There is two kinds of people in this world, givers and takers and if you are a person who is always seeking to use people for whatever reason it maybe than you will be a person who is always in need but if you are a giver than you will always have genuinely and not with cruel intentions.
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