Kant’s first and third formulations
Apply Kant’s first and third formulations to the following case. What is the father’s duty in this situation, according to Kant?
The German Father
You are the father of a large family living in Munich, Germany in 1938. You are a philosophy professor at the local University earning a modest income. Your wife has just given birth to your seventh child, a baby girl. Because you do not earn a large income your family is just able to survive on your salary.
The German government, which is run by the Nazis, has passed a number of laws restricting the freedom of Jewish people. For some time now the German government has been deporting Jewish citizens. You are not entirely certain of what is happening to these people, but you have heard rumors, which you believe to be true, that they are being systematically murdered in concentration camps.
One evening a close friend of yours from the University, who happens to be Jewish, comes to you asking for help. He and his wife are young and have just given birth to their first child, a baby boy. He informs you that the government later this evening will be coming to Munich and will be deporting all Jewish families to concentration camps. In past conversations with him you have mentioned that your house has a secret storage compartment in the basement where you store your wine and that it cannot be found by most people. Your friend asks if he and his family can hide in your wine cellar while the Germans are searching the town and you readily agree.
That evening, while your friend and his family are hiding in your basement, German officials knock on your door. They immediately inform you that they have heard rumors that you may be hiding a friend in your home. The officials also tell you, however, that because you are a professor at the local University and have a good reputation and are trusted by many people, that they do not actually believe that you are hiding anyone. They ask if indeed you are hiding anyone and if you would allow them to quickly search the house so they can tell their superiors that they have followed-up on the rumor and have found nothing. You believe that if you lie and allow them to search the house they will most likely not find your friend and his family, but you know that if they do you will be arrested and loose your job, thus making it almost impossible for your family to survive. If you tell the officials now, before they search the house, you will not be arrested and you will keep your job, but your friends will be sent to a concentration camp.
- Miss Bingley’s sarcasm emerges when she says to Mr. Darcy, “Do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt Philips be placed in the gallery at Pemberley. Put them next to your great uncle the judge. They are in the same profession, you know; only in different lines”. With her sarcastic remark, what is Miss Bingley really trying to say about the class gap between the Darcys and the Bennets? Make sure to interpret the quote in your answer.
- Read over the dispute between Darcy and Elizabeth in Chapter 11 and judge whose view is closest to a critical thinker. Explain. Make sure to consult our critical thinking terms, particularly the elements of logos, pathos, and ethos to create a persuasive argument.
- An awkward moment passes when Elizabeth and Darcy are discussing whether a female should live a close or far distance from her family after marriage. What was Mr. Darcy’s underlying point when asking those questions? Dig deep for this one.
- Do you think Darcy is a good friend to Bingley? Give evidence to back up your answer. This is supposed to be an evaluation of Darcy as a friend, so you should establish criteria in your response.
- If you were in Elizabeth’s place, would you reject Darcy’s proposal? Do you think that given her status and condition in life, that was a smart move on her part? Give 1-2 examples from the novel.