Immanuel Kant- Categorical Imperative
February 26, 2010
ayamiz
Tags: categorical imperative, itethics
Quote: “Now I say that man, and in general every rational being, exists as an end in himself, not merely as a means for arbitrary use by this or that will: he must in all actions, whether they are directed to himself or to other rational beings, always be viewed at the same time as an end.”
What I expect to learn: I expect to learn about Categorical Imperative and Good will.
Review:
“The end justifies the means”, is said by Machiavelli, wherein it means that no matter where it came from, as long as the result or the end is good, it can be justified as good. But how it is related to good will and to Categorical Imperative? Good will as was defined by Kant, is not good because of what it affects or achieved, but because of its fitness in attaining some proposed end. Duty can be considered as something that you do out of self –interest or for the sake of others. It can be called a duty, if there is a moral content with it and at the same time, there is the will. Just like the example given, there is a wretched man who has a strong soul and more angered at his fate and longs for death, but preserves his life, out of duty, his duty to preserve his life, then you can call it as a duty out of good will. He knows taking one’s life is immoral, so he did his duty by preserving his life and not taking it. Categorical imperative, as defined by Kant is an “Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” He said that act in such a way that you treat humanity, yourself or other people, not simply as a means but always at the same time an end. I believe that what he points out here is people must act from something that will benefit himself and other people, without any bad intention from doing it. A very good example I can think of is the politicians from our country. Election is nearing and if there are many calamities are coming to our country. They are helping those in need, but they are not helping them, because they feel good in helping them or it is out of their self interest, but they are doing that so that people will like them and vote for them, which returning again to our concept of duty, doesn’t have moral value.
What I learned:
- Categorical Imperative
- Good Will and Duty
- The end and the means
- People must act not simply as a means but at the always the end at the same time.
Integrative Questions:
- What is categorical imperative?
- When can you consider something as an act out of duty not out of inclinations?
- What is Good will?
- How is good will related to duty?
- What do means and ends mean?
Entry Filed under: Contemporary Moral Problems
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