Catergorical Imperatives

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Another theory of ethics is proposed by Immanuel Kant within Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals.

Starting with the assumption that rationality is the function of humans, he concludes that both how and why we should act moral is answered though categorical imperatives and their logical implementation.

Contents

Maxim

= Intention - Details
= Rule

A maxim is a general rule, this terminology is used throughout his work.

Categorical Imperative

Imperative is a command or guide for our actions.

Categorical is just something that is universal. In the context of imperative, it refers to a command for action that isn't specific to any situation and with the only goal being the action. This contrasts with hypothetical and hypothetical imperatives which are adopted from a situation for a particular goal.

The example of eating ice-cream because you are hungry is a hypothetical imperative. It is specific to the situation in which you are hungry, and the imperative has the intention of a goal further than just the action, which is clenching the hunger. So what is a categorical imperative? Kant imagines these as rules against doing something. Not committing murder might be a categorical imperative, no matter the situation, a moral person would always rule out murder for no other reason than because.

Because a categorical imperative are only rules against, they don't generate a list of moral actions themselves, but instead act as tests for proposed maxims.

Perfect vs Imperfect duty

Formulations

These can all be thought of as categorical imperatives.

Universality

Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.

When you propose a moral maxim it must be with the happiness for this maxim to become a universal law.

For example, if lying was a moral maxim, it would follow that it would be moral for everyone to lie, decreasing accessibility of truth therefore making it hard to be rational.

Humanity

Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end.

With yourself and other people, don't just interact to get something that you want. Understand their rationality deems them an end. Consent is required, as they have their own imperatives.

Autonomy

Thus the third practical principle follows [from the first two] as the ultimate condition of their harmony with practical reason: the idea of the will of every rational being as a universally legislating will.

This formulation is saying that we must follow the first two principles in every maxim that doesn't contradict. Not only that but this regulation cannot be external. The moral maxims must be self-legislated, as to impose them as an external force is to break Humanity, especially when Universality is considered.