Final answer:
Kant argued that every person is worthy of respect based on the principle of self-ownership, asserting that all individuals have inherent worth and value that is not dependent on their usefulness. This concept is rooted in the belief that humans possess rationality and should always be treated as ends in themselves.
Step-by-step explanation:
Immanuel Kant argued that every person is worthy of respect based on the principle of self-ownership. Kant believed that all individuals have inherent worth and value, which is not determined by their usefulness for some end or goal. According to Kant, a person should never be treated as a mere means but always as an end in themselves. This means that individuals should be respected and their rights should be upheld, regardless of any other interests or goals. Kant's argument is rooted in his belief that humans possess rationality, and it is this rational nature that gives them inherent worth.
For example, Kant asserts that rational beings are called persons because their nature already designates them as ends in themselves. He also suggests that humans have a capacity for reason, which differentiates them from other beings and justifies the special value assigned to them. Kant's ethics is centered on the concept of moral duty and the importance of acting rationally and morally.