Kant s Categorical Imperative Essay - 983 Words

The question of what is truly good and what is truly bad is a reoccurring focus of many well known philosophers. Immanuel Kant is known for his absolute and idealistic approach to answering this question, with which he provides us a medium to answer it. Kant calls this his categorical imperative. Throughout this paper I will break down Kant’s view on ethics, explain one formulation of his categorical imperative, and evaluate his theory on an existential level. Kant was a firm believer that there are two different worlds. He called them the â€Å"World of Phenomena,† and the â€Å"World of the Noumena.† Kant describes the World of Phenomena as the world of things, and the World of the Noumena as the world of ideas. It was Kant’s belief that the main goal of humanity was to rise above the phenomenal world (which is limited by physical needs, desires, and inclinations) to the noumenal world (where one is truly autonomous from laws of nature.) The only way one can reach this world is by attaining a perfectly good will. This brings us to the question, â€Å"what is truly good?† The categorical imperative was Kant’s answer to this question. He developed this formulation to help guide people to our true moral duties when we are deciding to act. Kant instructs that to determine if an action is a moral duty one must, â€Å"Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law of nature,† (Kant.) Put more simply, Kant wants people to consider whatShow MoreRelatedKant s Categorical Imperative Essay1454 Words   |  6 PagesIn this paper, I will explain the concept of Kant’s Categorical Imperative, and show how he used it to justify why it is wrong to lie to an inquiring murderer. I will note how he arrived at this conclusion, and why I consider it to be the correct moral answer. According to Kant, the Categorical Imperative is the supreme law of morality by which a particular rule that an individual takes as a maxim must be accepted by all rational beings. This universal acceptance is what judges an action to beRead MoreKant s Categorical Imperative Essay1246 Words   |  5 Pagesutilitarianism, Kant was more focused on intent and action itself. This leads into one of Kantian ethics main ideals; you mustn’t treat another human being as a means to an end. Kant’s Categorical Imperative (CI) is a deontological theory, which relied heavily on his belief that humans are all capable of reason in the same manner, on the same level (A Brief Summary of Kant s Categorical Imperative, 2012). Kant recognized 2 kinds of moral ‘imperatives’, a hypothetical imperative (what must be doneRead MoreKant s Categorical Imperative Essay1190 Words   |  5 PagesIn section I of Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative, Kant argues that every huma n being alive is subject to the categorical imperative. Kant came to this conclusion by arguing that the only thing that is good without needing qualification is a good will. Throughout this paper I will discuss Kant’s good will and his three propositions. A good will is an act done from duty and motivated by respect. If a person manifests a good will in action, the respect for duty determines that I do the actionRead MoreKant s Categorical Imperative Essay2239 Words   |  9 PagesKant’s Categorical Imperative An imperative is the linguistic form of a ‘command of reason’. In section II of the Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals, German philosopher Immanuel Kant writes, â€Å"the conception of an objective principle, in so far as it is obligatory for a will, is called a command (of reason), and the formula of the command is called an imperative.† It is a rule telling us what we ought to do. He distinguishes between two types of imperatives: hypothetical and categoricalRead MoreKant s Categorical Imperative Essay1448 Words   |  6 PagesKant’s categorical imperative is a natural conclusion of reason when searching for a moral guideline that does not depend on previous expense but reason alone. The categorical imperative can be explained in many different ways. Kant offers five formulations in his work groundwork of the metaphysics of morals. The formulations of Kant’s categorical imperative can be considered a test. If your maxim passes th e test then your actions under that maxim will be good. The formulations that Kant offers,Read MoreEssay about Kant ´s Theory: Categorical Imperative and its Rules827 Words   |  4 Pageswill 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 expectationsRead MoreKant And The Moral Law1451 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction: Kant argues that mere conformity with the moral law is not sufficient for moral goodness. I will argue that Kant is right. In this essay I will explain why Kant distinguishes between conforming with the moral law and acting for the sake of the moral law, and what that distinction means to Kant, before arguing why Kant was right. 2) Meaning of Kant’s Statement Why: According to Kant, we can control the will and meaning behind our actions. The morality of an action should be assessedRead MoreKant s Philosophy On Moral Philosophy Essay1519 Words   |  7 PagesAlthough Kant s philosophy, outlined in The Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, has some value as a moral guide, it alone is not always sufficient. After analysing Kant s objective moral imperative, I will show that implementing his philosophy has the potential to permit what is considered to be immoral. This is due to its rigid conditions, which are formed on the basis that he believes in the existence of a perfect morality that always holds true. However, I will argue that there is notRead MoreKant And Mill On Animal Ethics Essay1365 Words   |  6 PagesIn this essay I will begin by explaining the overall views of Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill, then compare and contrast the ideas and philosophies of Kant and Mill on Animal Ethics. I believe that Kant, the deontologist, will not care as much about the duty/responsibility between humans and animals as Mill, the utilitarian, who will see the extreme importance of animal ethics. After studying and explaining the views and teachings of these two philosophers I will see if my thesis was correct,Read MoreThe Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas by Ursula Le Guin1424 Words   |  6 Pagesgreatest number of people. On the contrary, Kant would argue that using the child as a mere means is wrong and argue that the living conditions of the child are not universalizable. The citizens of Omelas must face this moral dilemma for all of their lives or instead choose to silently escape the city altogether. My central thesis is that Kant would give the child’s life inherent value and advocate that Omelas’ citizens abandon their practices. In this essay I aim to examine the story of Omelas through