The Categorical Imperative

The Categorical Imperative

1. What it is...

   • Unconditional moral obligations which are binding in all circumstances and are not dependent on a person's inclination or purpose.
     • This means they are definite and and our opinions and preferences do not influence them.
   • Categorical imperatives do not rely on anyone and tell everyone what to do.
   • According to Kant, these categorical imperatives apply to everyone because they are based on an objective, priori law of reason.
     • The categorical imperative, according to Kant, is a test to judge whether an action is in accordance with pure practical reason. There are mainly three basic ones:
       • 1. “Act only accordingly to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will, that it should become a universal law.” - Kant calls this the Formula of the Law of Nature. This asks everyone to universalise their principles or maxims without contradiction.
         • Eg a man feels depressed and questions whether he should end his life. However, he questions whether that goes against his duty to himself. His maxim, from "Can he maxim of my action become a universal law of nature?", is " From self-love I make it my principle to shorten my life if its continuance threatens more evil than it promises pleasure.

2. What it isn't...

   • It is not hypothetical.
     • Hypothetical imperatives are a moral obligation that applies only if one desires the implicated goal.

3. Limitations

   • It doesn't allow to different considerations.
     • Kant never addresses what a 'person' is (issues with abortion, euthanasia etc)
   • Alasdair MacIntyre says universally principle can be used to justify anything.
   • People rarely act purely out of duty as they always have some expectation of what they'll get in return
     • Some philosophers think putting duty above feeling is cold and inhuman- there is no place for love and personal relations in Kant's theory.
   • Universalisable maxims are tricky when applied to moral dilemas