a) Explain with examples Kant’s theory of Categorical Imperative Kantian ethics is a deontological, absolute theory proposed by Immanuel Kant in the late 1700’s.Kant taught that an action could only count as the action of a good will if it satisfied the test of the Categorical Imperative.The categorical imperative is based around the idea to act solely for the sake of duty. Perfect duties are those that branch from reason.
Whereas the hypothetical imperative is acting in order to receive some kind of reward.
Kant argues that the categorical imperative is the only good way to act. While hypothetical imperative is an imperative based on desire or inclination, categorical imperative is an imperative based on reason alone. The Kinds of Duties. From the categorical imperative of the Golden Rule, Thirsty Man has adopted a maxim of "I will give anything I can to anyone I meet, if that person needs what I have much more than I need it.". It was his bottle to begin with and he could do whatever he wanted with it. Although the Categorical Imperative remains an influential idea in the modern day, there is a lot of criticism regarding its practical usage. The categorical imperative is not subject to any special conditions and is therefore still valid whatever the circumstances. They tell you what you should do only if you have the desire. Kant's categorical imperative procedure, Adam Smith's impartial spectator, and Rousseau's general will are primary examples of representations of a moral point of view. Therefore human beings are objects of respect.Happiness is governed by pain and pleasure. The categorical imperative therefore gives us the ability to decide if an action is a moral or immoral one, in that it tells us to make our decisions not on our desires or expected outcomes, which would be hypothetical, but by making a decision which is the right, moral or categorical imperative (Smith, 2010). John asked: How 'universalizable' does the categorical imperative need to be, i.e. Perfect duties are negative and strict: we simply are forbidden from doing these sorts of actions. The experiences that we as human beings encounter forces us to make choices whether we willingly decide to or not. The Categorical imperative commands universally and unconditionally, from which all duties are derived. The categorical imperative therefore gives us the ability to decide if an action is a moral or immoral one, in that it tells us to make our decisions not on our desires or expected outcomes, which would be hypothetical, but by making a decision which is the right, moral or categorical imperative (Smith, 2010). Nature. There are many philosophies of ethics, and many philosophers who have very different opinions. The first categorical imperative seems to forbid this, since if every… Hypothetical imperatives did not suffice with Kant as he felt that it was better to disregard consequences of an action and focus more on the morality. Unlike Kantianism Utilitarianism judged actions by looking at the consequences. Nature. The categorical imperative applies to all rational beings regardless of one’s personal motives and desires. Some philosophers would say that the Thirsty Man's maxim is a reasonable one. If Thirsty Man lived by a maxim based on this hypothetical imperative, it might be "If I can, I will drink water whenever I am thirsty.". Instead of the hypothetical imperative, Kant said that the moral choices are governed by a categorical imperative. Immanuel Kant came up with the categorical imperative when dealing with the importance of moral duty. In order to understand the categorical imperative theory, the definition of a maxim must be understood. Kant's ideas about this universal law and the categorical imperative are important basic components of the philosophy of Absolutism. Over time, philosophers have mulled over human happiness, with Aristotle and Kant taking opposing stances. Imperfect duties are those that we practice sometimes like helping other when we have to and bettering ourselves. original papers, This example has been uploaded by a student. An action that breaks a perfect duty contradicts reason. The difference between Kant’s Hypothetical imperative and categorical imperative is this; Hypothetical imperative is driven by desire. 1780. In this example, Thirsty Man is not making any obvious moral choice. Let's imagine a woman who is in the middle of her Ph.D. and waist-deep in student debt. Kant's Argument for the Categorical Imperative PATRICIA KITCHER Columbia University 1. Kant's idea of the categorical imperative would say that Thirsty Man made the right choice, for the right reasons, and he made those ethical decisions in a logical way. For example, if I can show that not to lie is a must then I will always respect it, whatever the circumstances, even if such a murderer wonder where lies my friend. The example of deceitful promises is a perfect illustration of how an immoral maxim may produce an internal contradiction when universalized. 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