Abstract

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Title:: The Accessibility of Marxist Economic Ethics: From the Perspective of Kant’s Ethical Rationalism

Keywords:: Kant; rationalism; utilitarianism; economic ethics; ethical behaviors

Abstract:: Ethical rationalism represented by Kant, instead of utilitarianism championed by Bentham, is the only theoretical basis of Marxist economic ethics. Kant’s ethical rationalism holds that only when economic behaviors do not run after wealth can economic ethics be accessible. Happiness and unhappiness cannot be taken as universal criteria for ethics, and thus cannot be considered rules of human behaviors. The specific aspects of economic behaviors can follow some ethical rules, but this can only render such aspects themselves relatively ethical rather than enabling the economic activities as a whole to be morally right in essence. Hence, it is groundless for western scholars to build a connection between economic behaviors and ethics. Economic behaviors can be guided by some presupposed values, but their pursuit of wealth is not likely to be changed.