In Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Immanuel Kant argued that every human being possesses intrinsic worth. He wrote: "So act that you use humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end and never merely as a means." Kant believed that people should never be treated simply as tools for profit, political advantage, or economic productivity. Instead, each person must be respected as a rational being with inherent dignity. Today, economic systems often measure value in terms of income, output, or efficiency. Some argue that poverty and inequality are unfortunate but inevitable outcomes of markets. Others believe that allowing extreme inequality means treating some people as expendable or less valuable. If Kant is correct that every person must be treated as an "end in themselves," does society have a moral duty to reduce poverty and inequality? What would it mean to design economic policies — such as taxation, wages, healthcare, or education — around the idea of equal human dignity?