Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative

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The Categorical Imperative is an idea that is central to the moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant. The Categorical Imperative is a command or action that describes what we have to do in all situations, irrespective of our desires and preferences; a principle that ‘represents an action as objectively necessary in itself, without reference to another end. Substantiating the Universal Law Formula, it states that I may act only in accordance with that maxim through which I can at the same time will that it become a universal law. A maxim is the principle or rule of an action, and is characterized by three elements; the type of action, the purpose of the action and the circumstances under which one would perform said action for said purpose. The …show more content…

Suppose I formulate a maxim that since my life is going well, I refuse to help anyone else who is in need and keep what I own only for myself. The next step in evaluating the moral obligations of the situation will be to universalize this maxim, such that everyone whose life is going well will refuse to anyone who is in need so as to keep what they have for only themselves. We then need to check if it is possible to conceive of a reality in which this principle is a universal law. Since such a world isn’t an impossible concept (it is possible for everyone whose life is going well to keep what they have for themselves and not help those in need), we will proceed to assess whether or not I would rationally want for the maxim to become universal law. Considering that this would imply that I would not want anyone to help me if I am in a time of need, it is impossible for me to rationally desire, or will, that this maxim to become a universal law. Thus, the problem of contradiction in will renders this maxim or action immoral, leaving me with a moral obligation or duty to not partake in it i.e. not go forth and act such that since my life is going well I refuse to help anyone in need and keep everything I have to

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