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By Root 816 0

not to proceed with your act is solidified once we supplement the “universal law” formulation with the “ends in themselves.” By allowing the exception only for yourself, you are implicitly saying that you are more important than everyone else. You are deserving of the exception, but no one else. But what makes you alone morally deserving of this benefit? Aren’t you simply one autonomous person among many? Aren’t you just as, but no more so, deserving as anyone else? The relevant rational error you make is that you are placing yourself morally above others, even though you have absolutely no good reason for doing so. In addition, by treating yourself as an exception you’re basing your decision on that which makes you exceptional—not your reason, but your desires or inclinations. Acting on these alone, for Kant, is undignified. You’re not behaving as a free, rational being; that is, autonomously. Instead, you are treating yourself as a mere thing, acting solely from bodily whims and desires. Thus, acting contrary to the “universal law” formulation proves you are acting irrationally and thus contrary to the “ends in themselves” formulation as well. This behavior not only disrespects others, it disrespects you as well.

We can now better understand the depth of Dr. Seuss’s moral insights via Mayzie’s failings and Horton’s heroics. On the one hand, Mayzie not only acted on a maxim she couldn’t universalize but also she used Horton as a mere prop or tool in her selfish project. Her ploy would only succeed if she kept from Horton the full truth about when she intended to return. She failed to provide Horton the respect due to him. She might have asked Horton for help with full disclosure about the facts and her intentions, but she chose not to, thereby disallowing any chance Horton had to respond as an autonomous person. Treating Horton with respect “as an end unto himself” entails that he be allowed to autonomously choose whether to aid Mayzie in her project, thereby adopting (or coadopting) her project. Of course, Mayzie would expect that others so treat her, which again explains how she illicitly makes an exception for herself.

Horton, on the other hand, makes it clear just how important human dignity is. Yes, what Mayzie did was wrong, but Horton’s interactions with the Whos provide the underlying reasons. Furthermore, Horton’s example makes something else clear: oftentimes, we fail to offer aid to others in need simply because we are lazy or apathetic. Many of us hide behind the excuse that keeping a promise or doing a chore is asking too much. At best, this is mere self-deception. At worst, this is an implicit affirmation of selfishness. Too often, we behave as Mayzie—on some level we falsely believe that our (nonmoral) projects are more important than those of others. Consequently, Horton’s heroism lies not in the fact that he was willing to become an ingredient in the Beezle-Nut stew but rather in the fact that he was not quick to shirk his responsibilities. In this sense, Seuss and Kant agree. Horton was willing and able to keep his word insofar as he could. If that is all it takes to be a hero, implicitly argues Dr. Seuss, then all of us can be that sort of hero. We should be more like Horton (and less like Mayzie). Dr. Seuss convincingly demonstrates this by furthering the story of Horton—from faithful egg sitter to courageous Who protector. By reexamining the “story” of Kant’s categorical imperatives—from the “universal law” to “ends in themselves” formulations—we can better appreciate the depth of Dr. Seuss’s moral genius. In this way, these two literary greats reciprocally facilitate an enriched appreciation of the ethics of respecting persons.

We Are Here! We Are Here!

It’s true that Horton’s heroism causes unrest in Nool, at least temporarily. However, Horton’s neighbors are to blame for the disruption. They are the ones who have failed to properly investigate the facts. Indeed, note why we see Sour Kangaroo as the antagonist: by single-mindedly valuing her personal project—even one that brings general harmony