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Single Idea 3724
[filed under theme 23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 2. Duty
]
Full Idea
A categorical imperative would be one which represented an action as objectively necessary in itself apart from its relation to a further end.
Gist of Idea
A categorical imperative sees an action as necessary purely for its own sake
Source
Immanuel Kant (Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals [1785], 414.39)
Book Ref
Kant,Immanuel: 'The Moral Law (Groundwork of Morals)', ed/tr. Paton,H.J. [Hutchinson 1948], p.78
The
70 ideas
from 'Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals'
5296
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Kant made the political will into a pure self-determined "free" will
[Kant, by Marx/Engels]
|
24011
|
Kant thought emotions are too random and passive to be part of morality
[Kant, by Williams,B]
|
5074
|
Kant united religion and philosophy, by basing obedience to law on reason instead of faith
[Taylor,R on Kant]
|
8024
|
The categorical imperative says nothing about what our activities and ends should be
[MacIntyre on Kant]
|
22390
|
Kant thought human nature was pure hedonism, so virtue is only possible via the categorical imperative
[Foot on Kant]
|
9750
|
We must only value what others find acceptable
[Kant, by Korsgaard]
|
20160
|
Kant focuses exclusively on human values, and neglects cultural and personal values
[Kekes on Kant]
|
9749
|
Our rational choices confer value, arising from the sense that we ourselves are important
[Kant, by Korsgaard]
|
7671
|
Values are created by human choices, and are not some intrinsic quality, out there
[Kant, by Berlin]
|
3544
|
Kant thinks virtue becomes passive, and hence morally unaccountable
[Kant, by Annas]
|
7674
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Generosity and pity are vices, because they falsely imply one person's superiority to another
[Kant, by Berlin]
|
21029
|
Kantian respect is for humanity and reason (not from love or sympathy or solidarity)
[Kant, by Sandel]
|
4024
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Kant follows Rousseau in defining freedom and morality in terms of each other
[Taylor,C on Kant]
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7105
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If 'maxims' are deeper underlying intentions, Kant can be read as a virtue theorist
[Kant, by Statman]
|
7625
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We can ask how rational goodness is, but also why is rationality good
[Putnam on Kant]
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5295
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Kant was happy with 'good will', even if it had no result
[Kant, by Marx/Engels]
|
6695
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Kant has to attribute high moral worth to some deeply unattractive human lives
[Kant, by Graham]
|
8028
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Kantian duty seems to imply conformism with authority
[MacIntyre on Kant]
|
8026
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Almost any precept can be consistently universalized
[MacIntyre on Kant]
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4413
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The categorical imperative smells of cruelty
[Nietzsche on Kant]
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15673
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The intuition behind the categorical imperative is that one ought not to make an exception of oneself
[Kant, by Finlayson]
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8068
|
Universalising a maxim needs to first stipulate the right description for the action
[Anscombe on Kant]
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8025
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The categorical imperative will not suggest maxims suitable for testing
[MacIntyre on Kant]
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8027
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I can universalize a selfish maxim, if it is expressed in a way that only applies to me
[MacIntyre on Kant]
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3762
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Why couldn't all rational beings accept outrageously immoral rules of conduct?
[Mill on Kant]
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22050
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The maxim of an action is chosen, and not externally imposed
[Kant, by Bowie]
|
6694
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Always treat humanity as an end and never as a means only
[Kant]
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4345
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For Kant, even a person who lacks all sympathy for others still has a motive for benevolence
[Kant, by Hursthouse]
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4251
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If we are required to give moral thought the highest priority, this gives morality no content
[Williams,B on Kant]
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16004
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If Kant lives by self-administered laws, this is as feeble as self-administered punishments
[Kierkegaard on Kant]
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7670
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Kant is the father of the notion of exploitation as an evil
[Kant, by Berlin]
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7591
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Kant completed Grotius's project of a non-religious basis for natural law
[Scruton on Kant]
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7673
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Retributive punishment is better than being sent to hospital for your crimes
[Kant, by Berlin]
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8046
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We can only know we should obey God if we already have moral standards for judging God
[Kant, by MacIntyre]
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20714
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God is not proved by reason, but is a postulate of moral thinking
[Kant, by Davies,B]
|
3710
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The only purely good thing is a good will
[Kant]
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3711
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Only a good will makes us worthy of happiness
[Kant]
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3712
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A good will is not good because of what it achieves
[Kant]
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3713
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The function of reason is to produce a good will
[Kant]
|
3714
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Dutiful actions are judged not by purpose, but by the maxim followed
[Kant]
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3715
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Other causes can produce nice results, so morality must consist in the law, found only in rational beings
[Kant]
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3717
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Reverence is awareness of a value which demolishes my self-love
[Kant]
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3716
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Act according to a maxim you can will as a universal law
[Kant]
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3718
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Telling the truth from duty is quite different from doing so to avoid inconvenience
[Kant]
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3719
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If lying were the universal law it would make promises impossible
[Kant]
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3720
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We may claim noble motives, but we cannot penetrate our secret impulses
[Kant]
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3721
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We judge God to be good by a priori standards of moral perfection
[Kant]
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3722
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Metaphysics goes beyond the empirical, so doesn't need examples
[Kant]
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3724
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A categorical imperative sees an action as necessary purely for its own sake
[Kant]
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3723
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There are no imperatives for a holy will, as the will is in harmony with moral law
[Kant]
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3725
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The good of an action is in the mind of the doer, not the consequences
[Kant]
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3726
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The categorical imperative is a practical synthetic a priori proposition
[Kant]
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3727
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Act as if your maxim were to become a universal law of nature
[Kant]
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3728
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Suicide, false promises, neglected talent, and lack of charity all involve contradictions of principle
[Kant, by PG]
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3730
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Non-rational beings only have a relative value, as means rather than as ends
[Kant]
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3729
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Our inclinations are not innately desirable; in fact most rational beings would like to be rid of them
[Kant]
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3731
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Rational beings necessarily conceive their own existence as an end in itself
[Kant]
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3732
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Rational beings have a right to share in the end of an action, not just be part of the means
[Kant]
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3733
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The 'golden rule' cannot be a universal law as it implies no duties
[Kant]
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3735
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Men are subject to laws which are both self-made and universal
[Kant]
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3736
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Virtue lets a rational being make universal law, and share in the kingdom of ends
[Kant]
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3737
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The will is good if its universalised maxim is never in conflict with itself
[Kant]
|
3738
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The hallmark of rationality is setting itself an end
[Kant]
|
3739
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Free will is a kind of causality which works independently of other causes
[Kant]
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3740
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We cannot conceive of reason as being externally controlled
[Kant]
|
3741
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We shall never be able to comprehend how freedom is possible
[Kant]
|
22008
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Always treat yourself and others as an end, and never simply as a means
[Kant]
|
22009
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Morality is the creation of the laws that enable a Kingdom of Ends
[Kant]
|
20715
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It is basic that moral actions must be done from duty
[Kant]
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4344
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Actions where people spread happiness because they enjoy it have no genuine moral worth
[Kant]
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