Categorical Imperative

Question 1

What is a categorical imperative?

Answer 1

This is an action performed for its own sake

For Kant this is a truly moral action

Question 2

What are the 3 formulations of the categorical imperative?

Answer 2

Universalisation
Treat people as ends not means
Act as a law making member of the kingdom of ends

Question 3

What is universalisation?

Answer 3

Only do something if you happy for everyone else to do the same
It can’t contradict the laws of nature (go against itself)
Kant only used limited examples - fidelity/promise keeping/charity
Aquinas= wasn’t possible to universalise all things (doctrine of the double effect)

Question 4

Exaplain - treat people as ends not means

Answer 4

Non-religious sanctity of life = valuable as rational
Treat people for who they are, not what they can do
You can’t always do this because sometimes people have to be sacrificed to save a bigger number

Question 5

Explain - act as a law making member of the kingdom of ends

Answer 5

This states that you have to assume that everything you do will become a universal law.
If you are happy for your actions to be one laws that everyone follows then the action passes the test and is moral

Question 6

What is a maxim?

Answer 6

A principle you want to test

Question 7

How do you know if a maxim is moral?

Answer 7

If the maxim does not fit in to any category it is not a categorical imperative.
If the maxim fits into at least one prong it is a categorical imperative - it is moral