Philosophy 100

Avatar: Through the yes of Kant and Deontology

There is a belief that morality considers the motives for behaving in such ways that we respect a person’s free will and never treat them as a means to our own ends. Noted philosopher Immanuel Kant stated Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals (1785) page 4 “ Its true {purpose} must be to produce a will, not merely good as a means to something else, but good in itself, for which reason was absolutely necessary.” This philosophy can be examined and tested through our experiences, our relationships, and even the films we watch and shows on T.V.
In the movie Avatar the humans go to the alien planet called Pandora with one goal in mind, to obtain all of their natural resources. In Pandora there are minerals that are said to be more valuable than gold or diamonds. The problem, it is nesting exactly on the land of the aliens that tare living on it, and also the home to a mystical tree that is said to be “god like” to the alien race. It is the belief of the humans that in order to get those minerals from the Aliens the humans should use force violence. The Humans then attack the alien civilization; all while being blinded by their greed and thirst for power. But in the movie there is one person that agrees with Kant and Deontology in saying that what they are doing is wrong, and this person ends up switching from the human side to the alien side because of this. I agree with Kant and choose the side of Deontology. This movie Avatar applies to the views of Kant and Deontology because the human race is breaking one important rule, which is once again “Act only how you really want everyone else to act,” a rule that should never be broken and is a big part behind the reasoning in Kant’s logic.
According to Kant and Deontology in Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals (1785) page 2-3 “the purpose of reason is not to make us happier. If our only purpose were to be happy, thinking would not be a good faculty to have - except perhaps to simply contemplate and enjoy things.” We all know humans have the ability to think and reason for themselves, but in Avatar they chose merely to follow their own happiness, which in turn turns them to greed and the thirst for power. Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals (1785) page 4 states “it’s true {purpose} must be to produce a will, not merely good as a means to something else, but good in itself, for which reason was absolutely necessary.” In Avatar the