categorical imperative
E13849
The categorical imperative is Immanuel Kant’s central moral principle that commands universally applicable duties based on reason alone, regardless of personal desires or consequences.
Observed surface forms (1)
| Surface form | As subject | As object |
|---|---|---|
| Formula of the Kingdom of Ends | 0 | 1 |
Statements (50)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
Kantian concept
→
deontological principle → ethical theory concept → moral principle → |
| aimsAt | universalizability of maxims → |
| appliesTo | all rational beings → |
| basedOn |
practical reason
→
pure reason → |
| centralTo | Kantian ethics → |
| contrastedWith | hypothetical imperative → |
| describedIn |
Critique of Practical Reason
→
Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals → Metaphysics of Morals → |
| distinguishedFrom |
moral relativism
→
prudential rules → |
| emphasizes |
dignity of persons
→
treating persons as ends in themselves → |
| evaluates | maxims of action → |
| formulatedBy | Immanuel Kant → |
| groundedIn |
autonomy of the will
→
freedom → |
| hasFormulation |
Formula of Autonomy
→
Formula of Humanity → Formula of Universal Law → categorical imperative self-linksurface differs →
surface form:
Formula of the Kingdom of Ends
Formula of the Law of Nature → |
| hasModality |
necessary
→
unconditional → |
| historicalPeriod | 18th century philosophy → |
| independentOf |
consequences
→
empirical desires → personal inclinations → |
| influenced |
contemporary human rights theory
→
discourse on dignity → modern deontological ethics → |
| languageOfOrigin | German → |
| opposes | moral consequentialism → |
| philosophicalTradition | German idealism → |
| presupposes |
moral responsibility
→
rational agency → |
| providesCriterionFor |
moral obligation
→
moral permissibility → |
| requires |
acting from duty
→
consistency of willing → impartiality → respect for moral law → universalizability test → |
| statedAs |
Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law
→
Act only so that the will can regard itself as at the same time making universal law through its maxims → So act that you use humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means → |
Referenced by (8)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
this entity surface form:
Formula of the Kingdom of Ends
subject surface form:
Immanuel Kant