Kant's Categorical Imperative: Formula Of The Universal Law
Also, there is another important aspect of Kantianism, which is called a categorical imperative. This is the aspect that helps us to constrain our maxims. In accordance to Kant, there are three different formulations of the categorical imperative: formula of the universal law, formula of the end-in-itself, and formula of the kingdom of ends. (White, 2015C, p. 2) The formula of the universal law is telling us about the maxims that can be transferable into a universal law, which means that the action taken out of that particular maxim can be applicable to anyone. The formula of the end-in-itself is explaining us that we should treat others in respect with their maxims, meaning that if they self-legislated certain maxims for themselves, we should be respectful to it. Finally, the formula of the kingdom of ends means that we should legislate maxims for ourselves as if we are legislating them for absolutely …show more content…
As classical thinkers believed, “a thing’s natural end is its telos.” (White, 2015D, p. 1) Such belief applies to any living organisms existing in the world. The natural end is the reaching of perfection. In accordance to virtue ethics, when something has reached its potential state, it is assumed to have reached the perfection. For example, let’s take a look at a caterpillar. Caterpillar has a potential to become a butterfly in the future. It can’t become a human being or a bird. The only option for it is to become a butterfly. If we think about it from a potential point of view, the caterpillar is already a butterfly, but if we looked at it from the actual side – it is sill a caterpillar. In order to become a butterfly, it has to perfect itself. Classical thinkers like to look at things from the point of potentiality and actuality. What is actually one thing, one day potentially will transform into another one, but only if it strives and able to reach its natural
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Ethical Theory Of Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative
890 Words | 4 PagesThe end does not justify the means. This was the principal ethical theory of Immanuel Kant and made up his ‘Categorical Imperative’, a deontological argument which showcased how certain actions are fundamentally wrong, such as murder, lying or torture and can therefore, never be justified. Contrastingly a utilitarian would claim that the ends do in fact justify the means and would enact a focus on outcomes in deciding whether or not an action is morally permissible. In 2002 Jakob Von Metzler, a boy of just twelve years, was kidnapped and a police officer threatened the kidnapper, Magnus Gafgen, with torture in an attempt to find and save the child. Gafgen told the officer that he had killed the boy and then disclosed the location of the body.
The Allusion Of The Butterfly In Whila Cather's O Pioneers
86 Words | 1 Pages“The butterfly is nature’s way of reminding us that there is hope in grief when a caterpillar is no more and the butterfly exists in ultimate freedom and beauty.” These words of Tanya Lord perfectly describe the allusion of butterflies that caught my attention while reading the book O Pioneers! By Whila Cather. There are two main setting in which butterflies appear throughout the novel, after doing research I found many interesting facts of butterflies, and was able to better understand why Cather used this allusion.
Compare And Contrast United States Vs Holmes
1969 Words | 8 PagesKant's categorical imperative is a belief that certain actions are absolutely prohibited even that if it would bring more happiness as an alternative. There are two things you must ask yourself before doing the action. One would be can i rationally say that everyone would act as I supposed to act and two is, does my action respect the goals of human beings rather than merely using them for my own purposes. An example of this belief would be unconditional rule sayings don’t cheat on taxes. So even though the cheating on your taxes would serve your own interest, you cannot cheat because it is a universal law.
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803 Words | 4 PagesThe categorical imperative basically universalises everyone regardless of all circumstances and purposes (if it would be morally good for everyone to do it, and not just one being, Kantian morals then allow for it). Before taking a Kantian point of view, one must first determine the starting point of life (conception? six weeks? first heart beat? at birth?)
Categorical Imperatives Immanuel Kant
449 Words | 2 PagesImmanuel Kant is a well-known philosopher from the 18th century who argued that reason was essential when determining whether or not something was ethical or not. He also believed we should act rationally, and everyone should wish to do so. Kant viewed morality on the basis of categorical imperatives, which are commands that tell us which ends to pursue. These are rules that we are obligated without regards to whether or not we wish to follow them. The reasons we should follow these rules is because they are founded by moral reasonings.
Kant's Formula Of Universal Law
1969 Words | 8 PagesKant provides a definition of the categorical imperative, “ A categorical imperative would be one that represented an action as itself objectively necessary, without regard to any further end” (Kant 337). In other words, a categorical imperative is a moral law that absolute in any test or situation, and does not depend on the end result or an ulterior motive. The Formula of Universal Law depends on the reasoning, “ Act only on that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law” (Kant 330). This means that whatever your action is, it would be recast to apply to everyone. In this case the maxim is the rationality for doing an action, which has a end goal.
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