康德论对动物的间接义务

Kant on Indirect Duty to Animals

康德的义务概念包含了服从法则以及对法则的敬重两个要素,我们有对自己以及对他人的义务。虽然我们没有对动物的直接义务,但是我们有对动物的间接义务。它要求我们善待动物,因为对动物的方式涉及到我们对自我的义务。康德对动物的间接义务一方面强调了人的特殊地位,另一方面又强调了我们要善待动物。它不仅符合日常道德直观,而且揭示了我们日常道德直观的根基——人的自由存在。我们不需要偏离康德伦理学的基本原则来为康德辩护。

The Kantian concept of duty includes two factors： conform to duty and respect it. We have the duty to ourselves and to others. Although we do not have direct duty to animals, we do have indirect duty to them, which requests us to be kind to animals since our treatment of them concerns the duty to ourselves. Kantian indirect duty to animals emphasizes mankind＇s special status, and we should be kind to animals. It not only conforms to our common sense, but also reveals to us the basic of our common sense--the freedom of existence. We need not deviate from Kantian philosophy in order to defend Kant.