John Cheever's the Swimmer and the abstract standpoint of Kantian moral philosophy

Rebecca Hughes

Kieron O'Hara

pp. 101-115

in: Andrew Hadfield, Dominic Rainsford, Tim Woods (eds), The ethics in literature, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 1999

Abstract

In Kantian philosophy, morality demands that individuals be treated as deserving significant and equal respect. People should be seen as ends of moral behaviour, and not just as means to independently desirable outcomes. Morality is grounded on the categorical imperative, that "I should never act except in such a way that I can also will that my maxim should become a universal law". In other words, one may be subject to contradictory desires or interests, but these cannot be supported by reason.

Cited authors

Kant Immanuel

Cheever John