Leilani Merrill
IMMANUEL KANT
“Act only in accordance with that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it become universal law” Immanuel Kant
Code of conduct may be universizable. Act only in a way that you will that it become Universal Law. If everyone does your like conduct, will that achieve a successful outcome.
The maxim is, If everyone were to act in my way, would it be acceptable for it to become a Universal law.
Once the conduct is universalized, and if it’s contradictory to one’s end goal, then it’s immoral. It creates a logical contradiction.
To Kant, if morality exists it’s got to be universal.
Imperatives
Hypothetical
If she wants this, then she needs to do that.
Categorical
Independent and stands on its own. Universally binding.
Autonomy is created that is not dependent on a direction from others.
To Kant, morality is not based on hypothetical imperatives but categorical imperatives. Kant considers people as rational agents.
“Act in such a way that you treat humanity, never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end.” Immanual Kant
Philosophers Influenced by Kant:
Georg Wilhelm Hegel
Friedrich Nietzsche
Philosophy Forever 