Kantian ethics5/21/2023 ![]() ![]() ![]() Kant’s second formulation of the categorical imperative is:Īct so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another always as an end and never as a means only. In saying that I ought to be truthful, I am implying that I should do this whenever the same circumstances arise (making an expenses claim in the previous example), and that everyone should do so also. In acknowledging that I should be honest in my business transactions, I am implying that I ought to be consistent, and that others ought to do likewise in similar circumstances. Kant wrote:Īct only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.īy this, Kant is acknowledging the universal nature of morality. Since moral beliefs are universally binding, one key characteristic of holding a moral belief is consistency. ![]() ![]() A maxim recommending a model course of action, on the other hand, might be, “If asked for my expenses, I ought to be truthful.” I may adopt a maxim like, “fiddle your expenses if you are unlikely to be detected,” or “lie if one is in a tight spot”. In doing so he makes use of the concept of a “maxim”, which needs some explanation.Ī maxim is a principle on which one acts, and takes the form, “In such circumstances, do that.” The maxim may or may not be a moral principle. Kant formulates three versions of the categorical imperative, based on the principles of consistency, human dignity, and universality. ![]()
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