Categorical Imperative Flashcards
a moral principle which denotes that you should act only in accordance with that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it become a universal law.
Categorical Imperative
meaning that you should act a certain way only if you’re willing to have everyone else act the same way too
Categorical Imperative
who proposed categorical imperative?
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant’s book (1785)
Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals
categorical imperative is a moral principle that is ____, meaning that it should be followed by all rational beings and that following it should be seen as a goal in itself
absolute
a relevant concept that illustrates the value of the categorical imperative
Tragedy of Commons
this describes a phenomenon whereby the collective action of individuals, who are each acting in an independent and self-interested manner, ends up being detrimental to them all, generally by exhausting or spoiling a shared resource
Tragedy of Commons
it prompts individuals to consider the consequences of their actions when performed on a collective scale
Categorical Imperative
how to use categorical imperative?
a. Ask guiding questions. b. Visualize everyone else acting the same way. c. Consider the outcomes of everyone acting the same way.
a philosophical principle that denoted that, when interpreting someone’s statement, you should assume that the best possible interpretation of that statement is the one that the speaker meant to convey
Principle of Charity
although categorical imperative is primarily used when considering _____, it can also be used when assessing your past actions
future actions
the first formulation of categorically imperative
The Formula of Universal Law (FUL)
“act only in accordance with that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it become a universal law.”
The Formula of Universal Law
variant of the first formulation
The Formula of the Law of Nature (FLN)
“so act as if the maxim of your action were to become through your will a universal law of nature.”
The Formula of the Law of Nature
second formation
The Formula of Humanity as End in Itself (FH)
“act so that you use humanity, as much in your own person as in the person of every other, always at the same time as end and never merely means.”
The Formula of Humanity as End in Itself
third formulation
The Formula of Autonomy (FA)
“the idea of the will of every rational being as a will giving universal law.” or “ not to choose otherwise than so that the maxims of one’s choice are at the same time comprehended with it in the same volition as universal law.”
The Formula of Autonomy (FA)
sometimes called also as the Formula of the Kingdom of Ends
The Formula of the Realm of Ends (FRE)
a variant of the third formulation
The Formula of the Realm of Ends
“act in accordance with maxims of a universally legislative member for a merely possible realm of ends.”
The Formula of the Realm of Ends
best-known formulation
The Formula of Universal Law
criticisms of categorical imperative
a. The ‘need for an authority’ criticism b. The ‘inability to deal with evil’ criticism
a moral principle which denotes that you should treat others the same way you want to be treated yourself
Golden Rule
A ___ is the subjective principle for action, and must be distinguished from the objective principle, namely the practical law
maxim
The representation of an objective principle, insofar as it is necessitating for a will, is called a ‘command’, and the formula of the command is called an ___
imperative
determines the will by means of representations. of reason, hence not from subjective causes, but objectively, from grounds that are valid for every rational being as such
Practical Good
a moral law that depends on some end goal or condition
Hypothetical Imperative
a moral law that is absolute and unconditional, meaning that it does not depend on a particular end goal
Categorical Imperative
one that must be followed, as it permits no exception in the interest of inclination
Perfect Duty
allows some latitude, as the law cannot specify precisely in what way one is to act and how much one is to do
Imperfect Duty
an action that one should perform
Positive Duty
an action that one should avoid
Negative Duty
