We are ends to ourselves

First off, I am going to say I agree to this statement and try to make sense of what is said in these examples. In chapter 2, several examples were brought up between 4:422 - 4:423 explaining ones actions and why we would do them. We want to "be able to will that a maxim of our action becomes universal law" (4:424), meaning act in a way that would establish the maxim for the action as a universal law of nature.

An end we try to pursue can be done falsely (not purely) and be done purely if it is done only to itself and have no other purposes. The first example of suicide was first questioned. We "ask [ourselves] whether [the] action can be consistent with the idea of humanity, as an end in itself" (4:429) and we reach the conclusion yes it is. One would normally commit suicide to avoid the displeasure of whatever insurmountable situation he is in. He uses his person as a means to an end being his life.

We continue to the next example of borrowing. This is when we can use other humans and an end, but not include ourselves in the end. To "make a lying promise to others will see at once that he wants to make use of another human being merely as a means, who does not at the same times contain in himself the end" (4:429). I like how clever the statement is holding up. Our end in this situation is to not have to pay back the person, making a lying promise, and this would include keeping us out of the end. So in the end, they will use that person to help themselves financially, motivating us to continue this longer and becoming a universal law.

The third example is explained simply, our "contingent duty to oneself it is not enough that the action not conflict with humanity in our person, as an end in itself ,it must also harmonize with it" (4:430). I took this as our duty cannot hinder humanity, so we actually have to benefit humanity, to harmonize with it. Humanity itself pushes for greater perfection, we try to help each other without hindering and try to preserve humanity as an end, but to not make advancements to this end.

Lastly, we as humans have a duty to help each other. We have a "natural end that all human beings have is their own happiness" (4:430). It is said that humans can exist if we choose not to contribute to one's happiness, their need to be helped, as long as we do not make their situation worse. This does not bode well with our duty to help others because "this is still only a negative and not a positive agreement with humanity, as an end in itself" (4:430). We are not trying to help each other advance to our own ends.

The wording was confusing, but I think I got the gist of what was being said. Those four examples were explained well enough for me to agree to the statement that humans are an end to themselves. We just need to examine situations more clearly and we can eventually make an conclusion that we do this for this and to reach this end. Now, whether the action is good or not is yet to be seen until further examination, but for now the statement seems to hold up well, compared to the four examples.