Kant's Categorical Imperative. Kant believed that there is an objective moral law, which can be known through reason (not sense experience) and is therefore a priori. However, as moral statements can be right or wrong, they are also synthetic. Moral statements are therefore 'a priori synthetic'.
What is the (first formulation of) the categorical imperative 'Act only according to that maxim [rule] whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law without contradiction'
The Categorical Imperative I must do X The Categorical Imperative is a moral obligation Good Will "Good Will shines forth like a precious jewel" Nothing can be taken as good without qualification, except good will (ie, an intrinsic good)
Kant believed that there is an objective moral law, which can be known through reason (not sense experience) and is therefore a priori. However, as moral statements can be right or wrong, they are also synthetic. Moral statements are therefore 'a priori synthetic'. The summum bonum:
Kant's first formulation of the CI states that you are to “act only in accordance with that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it become a universal law” (G 4:421).
To illustrate the categorical imperative, Kant uses four examples that cover the range of morally significant situations which arise. These examples include committing suicide, making false promises, failing to develop one�s abilities, and refusing to be charitable.
The first formulation of the categorical imperative says that an act is wrong if itsmaxim cannot be willed to become a universal law. The maxim of an action includeswithin it inclination or private interest. The maxim is to act a certain way to furtheror promote a certain interest.
Kant claims that the first formulation lays out the objective conditions on the categorical imperative: that it be universal in form and thus capable of becoming a law of nature. Likewise, the second formulation lays out subjective conditions: that there be certain ends in themselves, namely rational beings as such.
Kant's CI is formulated into three different ways, which include: The Universal Law Formulation, The Humanity or End in Itself Formulation, and The Kingdom of Ends Formulation (Stanford) . The first to formulas combine to create the final formulation.
What is the categorical imperative? The categorical imperative is the idea that you do something because it is your moral commands, and you are told to do them and they are not dependant on anything else. Kant said it will show if an action is being judged with pure reason.