Final answer:
The statement attributing to Kant that we should treat people as merely a means to an end is false. Kant's moral philosophy revolves around treating humans as ends in themselves and upholding the dignity and worth of every rational being.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Kant argued that we should always treat people as a means to a greater end' is false. Immanuel Kant, a prominent Enlightenment philosopher, fundamentally believed in treating humans as ends in themselves and not merely as tools to achieve an objective. This principle is a cornerstone of his moral philosophy.
Kant's Categorical Imperative, particularly the Humanity Formulation, emphasizes that we ought to treat rational beings (ourselves and others) as ends and never merely as means. According to Kant, every person has inherent worth and dignity by virtue of being a rational agent, capable of making decisions based on reason. In his views, lying to someone, for example, undermines their rational agency and treats them purely as a means to an end; such an act fails to respect the inherent value of the person.
Kant envisions an ideal society he calls the Kingdom of ends, where every individual is always treated as an end in their own right. The moral law must, according to Kant, be universally applicable to all rational beings, aligning with his Principle of Universalizability. This principle is one of respect and autonomy that upholds the worth of every individual. Thus, the correct answer aligns with Kant's categorical imperative and affirming human dignity.