About

The categorical imperative refers to a moral law that is absolute and mandatory because the act itself is good, regardless of any conditions or consequences. First content of the categorical imperative: 'Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.' Second content of the categorical imperative: 'Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end.' The opposite of a categorical imperative is a hypothetical imperative. He opposed the naturalistic view of humanity. Rejecting the naturalistic view that humans are governed solely by natural laws, he emphasized the equal dignity of all human beings. According to Kant, humans possess a 'moral law.' As beings with absolute value, humans are not means to an end for others but are 'ends in themselves' and must be treated with the dignity they deserve. In his study of ethics, Kant pursued a 'universal and objective' morality that everyone could acknowledge, rather than a morality that 'differs' based on subjective emotions or situations. This is because he believed it was right to uphold a morality that everyone considers rational and valid. These are called moral laws, and Kant believed it was not right for humans to perform good deeds based solely on their emotions. Here, Kant saw a struggle between impulse and morality within the human heart. That is, a conflict between impulse and moral sense occurs regarding doing right or wrong; if morality wins, one performs a good deed, and if impulse wins, one does wrong. However, he maintained that morality should not completely eliminate impulse. He was a philosopher from the Kingdom of Prussia (modern-day Germany). In the history of modern Western philosophy, he is credited with sparking a 'Copernican Revolution' called 'transcendental synthetic judgment' by synthesizing Continental Rationalism and British Empiricism. He left a significant mark on all fields of Western philosophy, including epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics. Among his works, the three critiques—'Critique of Pure Reason,' 'Critique of Practical Reason,' and 'Critique of Judgment'—are famous.