Kantian Approach

According to Kant, humans have three motives for action: inclination, self-interest, and duty. As the video shows, Disney's management acts on inclination and self-interest. Kant explains this first motive for action as animal instinct. Disney's management has exploited almost defenseless Haitians by paying them such low wages. Knowing these individuals cannot find better paying jobs and have nowhere else to go to live or work, therefore they pay workers the "bare minimum" while they themselves take home large paychecks and ultimately revel in comfortable lifestyles that Haitians could only dream about. Disney did not follow Kant's last motive for action, duty. Disney had to be aware of the unsafe work conditions and wages in theses shops. When Disney workers were questioned about these practices, they seemed to feel as if they had the duty to tell the truth.

The core behind Kant's formulation of the categorical imperative is, "Always treat the humanity in a person as and end and never as a merely." (2002, pg 65) Disney did not give workers any respect or reward for the work they did. Kant believes that treating a person as an end and not as a means requires two things, the first is that the people in a business relationship should not be coerced or deceived and the second is that business organizations and practices should be arranged so they contribute to the development of human rational and moral capacities. (2002, pg 65)

Kant also views the organization as a moral community. Each person of the organization must be respectful of all other members. Disney seemed to leave the workers "in the dark" about the business and the final product. Their only concern was how much could be produced at the lowest possible price. No concern was given to the individuals who were over-working themselves and being paid next to nothing. Many of these ethical issues could have been easily eliminated or drastically reduced