Final answer:
The philosopher Immanuel Kant is known for saying "never treat a fellow human merely as a means to an end," emphasizing the respect for individuals as autonomous agents with their own inherent worth, which is central to his ethical theory involving the Categorical Imperative and the Kingdom of Ends.
Step-by-step explanation:
The philosopher Immanuel Kant is often associated with the maxim "never treat a fellow human merely as a means to an end," which is central to his ethical theory. According to Kant, people should always be treated as ends in themselves and never merely as a means to achieve some other end. This idea is derived from Kant's concept of the Categorical Imperative, which is a central principle in his moral philosophy, and contrasts with utilitarian perspectives like those of John Stuart Mill and the considerations of human nature by philosophers like Aristotle and Thomas Hobbes.
Kant argued that moral actions are those that can be universalized and applied to everyone without contradiction. In other words, actions are moral if they respect the inherent worth of all individuals, never using them solely as tools to achieve one's goals. Kant placed significant emphasis on the autonomy and rationality of individuals, suggesting that in all our actions, we should respect others as being capable of making rational decisions and setting their own ends.
Furthermore, Kant's moral philosophy was built around the idea of an ideal Kingdom of Ends, in which all individuals are treated as autonomous agents who contribute to a society where everyone's rights and dignity are respected. In direct contrast to the more self-centered view of human nature proposed by Thomas Hobbes, Kant's vision promotes cooperation and respect among individuals as foundational to an ethical society.