3.Kant : the hypothetical imperative Flashcards
syllabus definition of HI
(a command to act to achieve a desired result)
explain the HI
The hypothetical imperative is conditional and depends on certain desires or goals.
It is a command to act in a certain way in order to achieve a desired result or end.
The hypothetical imperative takes the form: “If you want X, then you must do Y.”
It is a means-end reasoning, where the action is seen as a necessary condition for attaining a specific goal or satisfying a particular desire.
For example, if you want to be healthy, the hypothetical imperative would dictate that you should exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet.
The imperative is contingent upon the desire to be healthy, and the action of exercising and eating well is seen as a means to that end.
why it is not the imperative of morality
However, Kant argues that the hypothetical imperative is not the basis of moral action or the imperative of morality.
The reason for this is that the hypothetical imperative is contingent on subjective desires or goals, which can vary from person to person.
It does not provide a universal moral law that applies to all rational beings.
