Kant´s Theory: Categorical Imperative and its Rules

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Recommended: The 3 formulations of the categorical imperative

“Morality is not the doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness”. Two things that are not compatible are what an individual should do and what the individual wants to do. When an individual does what they want to do they end up in a road that will lead them into immediate happiness but will not benefit them in the long run. On the other hand when the individual is doing what they should do it will bring them a feeling of discomfort and unhappiness but will benefit them at the end.
The purpose of Kantianism is to tell us that morality is not to make us happy but the whole purpose is to do the right thing just for the sake of doing it. Eventually doing the right thing will lead us to our happiness. Kant said that we are determined to know what’s good or what’s bad through self- law and using ourselves as our own guidance’s. We as individuals will determine our own behavior than having someone telling us how we should act because of their expectations they have towards us. Doing the right thing for the right reason is very important upon being a Kantian. The morals of Kantians are non-consequential. The actions of a Kantian are based on the will of that person and not the consequences that come with the actions we take and our behavior. Doing what’s right just because it’s right is the only reason why we should do the right thing.
For Kant there are two types of good. Intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motive involves us engaging in activity because it will bring us personal rewards with an intrinsic motive we are performing activities to be reward for ourselves rather than to be rewarded from the outside world. Extrinsic motives on the other hand occurs when we are motived pe...

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...d even though the students know they are not prepare for an exam they will still study until they feel like they would feel comfortable with the subject. Receiving a passing grade by cheating will not feel better than receiving the passing grade and knowing that I studied hard for and that I deserve the grade.
In conclusion, Kant came up with a theory called categorical imperative which has three rules. Moral laws and universal which means it effects everyone, you know something is ok when you see everyone else in the world doing it and treat actions as itself rather than the after effects. Kant was concerned with the motive or the good behind the choices we make rather than consequences that followed those actions. When it came to cheating Kant believe that its immoral cheating is wrong and there’s no definite way to defend it and say that is correct to cheat.

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