Dealing With Kant’S Racism
Paulinus ChikwadoEjeh, PhD
Philosophy Unit, General Studies Division, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria
Keywords: Kant’s Racism, Kant’s Racism in Brief
Abstract
Immanuel Kant presents what looks like a universal theory that says that every human being has an innate dignity and value and should be treated with respect. But then, Kant’s ethical theory is far from being a universal moral theory. In fact, Kant’s ethical theory is an exclusive ethical principle structured for the white-Europeans only. This paper therefore, is an attempt to reconstruct and salvage Immanuel Kant’s racial views which stand on the way of his universal principle – the categorical imperative. Although this paper is aimed at a reconstruction of Kant’s racial views, it however does not in any way exonerate Kant from the guilt of his racism, rather it tries to highlight Kant’s racism and at the same time argue that although Kant is guilty of racism, his ethics which contain morally worthy elements should not be abandoned just because of his few sins.