Role of Kant's categorical imperative in ethics
Introduction
Kant believed that moral rights are imperative largely categorical. In this sense, these moral rights asserted that commands us to take certain actions, hence the imperative word. In addition, he believes that these moral duties apply to humans because they are categorically rational beings and have the ability to make their own decisions
Analysis Kant's categorical imperative
The basis behind Kant's ethics is that every rational human being or for that matter had the ability to determine their duty by reason. According to him, this was the basis of general "Good." Kant emphasized the fact that no action can be used to judge whether a being is good or bad because sometimes some good deeds can be a way to commit evil acts. For example, finances the donation of materials or charity can be considered a "good" act. However, when the person who donated his property to charity is simply trying to highlight the fact that he is rich, then this demeans the whole purpose of committing these "seemingly good" actions. (Timmons, 2002)
Similarly, when you do something that results in an outcome positive, this does not necessarily mean that they are inherently "good." Kant said that sometimes these good results can come from bad intentions. For example, an employer establishes a business to overtake its rival long time may employ several people within the society thus indicates positive results. However, intentions of this individual is evil. Therefore, it makes sense when Kant described as either intrinsic goodwill. This means that when the intent of the initiation of an action are pure, then no matter the outcome or the character traits associated with the action (intelligence, courage), that person is a "good" human being. (Schroeder, 2005)
Kant's categorical imperative states that emanates from the fact that human beings have free will. Kant's explanations make sense because argued that to act morally, it is necessary that one is free to first or the option of being moral or immoral. However, Kant is quick to point out that this did not mean that human beings are completely free and that their actions are not predetermined. Kant's explanation was that morality was the predicate for the actions themselves. This is because if morality is not pre-exist, then human actions are scattered and undefined. This is also the reason why Kant says that there must be a god. According to the philosopher, the notion God makes sense because he is the ultimate definer of what is moral and what is not. He also believed that the moral imperative importance of celebrating life, then had to be aware of an afterlife where they will be responsible for their actions. Through these claims, Kant was one of the few philosophers who managed to tie the question of right, morality and free will. (Timmons, 2002)
Not assume that claims of Kant is in fact based on fixed rules. According to this philosopher, rational beings, they were not there as a machine controlled by predetermined laws, however, there were some inherent rules that must be determined before committing a particular act, hence the 'a priori' part of his argument. The statements were in opposition to what another philosopher said through the argument a posteriori. The latter philosophers believed that human actions are moral beings, in fact, direct results of their experiences. When something happened to them that reinforced a certain truth, that experience would be the basis of their subsequent moral judgments. However, these arguments do not hold water philosophers when analyzing certain scenarios. For example, a friend can apply for a loan from a friend and a promise to return the money, but it did not. According to this experience, philosophers 'A back' that the lender would not lend money to other people and would come to the conclusion that borrowers do not keep their promises. This assumption is obviously false, since the specific lender can continue to help his friend. This is where Kant's arguments make sense because through decisions previously established, one can understand the reason behind the actions of the lender. Through the argument a priori, Kant is trying to say that being human as long as the option to apply certain actions prior to engaging in an experience. (Schroeder, 2005)
Kant also claims that how human beings act largely determined by the categorical imperative, because the experience is enough to compel one to act a certain way. The categorical imperative can not be tested by experience. For example, when a person decides to walk alone at night and assault, then that person will learn that one should not walk alone at night because they can get assaulted. However, experience tells us only about what the truth should be and not how it is. In this sense, Kant says that if it is assumed that the cause of a particular outcome was as a result of some truth, then that is the case. In the case of the solitary walker, he / she decided it was the idea of walking alone at night caused the result negative of being assaulted. Thus, this decision meant to understand the nature of that experience. Kant believed that the mind imposes these ideas in mind so that certain actions can only reaffirm. In other words, the point I was trying to say that a categorical imperative is based on "should" instead of "is." (Schroeder, 2005)
Kant goes on to add that the guy is largely responsible for the actions of a human being. This is because the categorical imperative allows one to understand why some issues are not universal laws and therefore leaves room for the inconsistencies of human life. For example, taking the example of Solitary Walker, he / she still can walk at night after deciding that the theft was a stroke of bad luck. Throughout, the categorical imperative Kant, it is possible to understand why humans sometimes behave irrationally. Human actions are largely incompatible and can not be universally applied, because each involves always in your mind before some experience. Kant attaches great importance to the role of mind in the development and determination of our experiences.
In his famous book grounding of the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant states the following
"Act as if the maxim of the action you arrive to be by your will a universal law of nature "
"I should never act except in such a way that may also want maximum become a universal law "(Timmerrman, 2007)
Through those words, Kant was trying to explain the essence of moral imperative. To understand the difference between the last sentence, it is necessary to illustrate with an example, when a doctor is discussing whether or not to help a patient receiving terminating, then applies the categorical imperative. The good will can only come into play when a particular item has the same default. If that although in itself is good, then the consequences of those actions can not be applied to their own respective situations therefore, the first sentence. However, one's actions should be performed only after to decide whether to allow the thoughts predetermined orientation aspects of the decisions thus the last sentence. (Timmons, 2002)
statements of that of Kant also make sense because of the fact that man can make certain universal laws if they take a conscious decision for others to follow. This statement affects the way humans perceive or respect each other. According to the philosopher, the truth only becomes so when a human being as the other as an end and not as a means to that end. Accordingly, any rule that one must consciously choose to be such that may lead to the same person is treated as an end and not as a mechanism to reach that end.
Conclusion
The categorical imperative is based on the fact that, in general good is determined by one's intentions before a certain experience. Kant also believed that the categorical imperative which occurs prior experience to guide the experience. Through these statements, humans can now understand the role of the mind in training experiences.
Reference:
Timmerrman, J. (2007): Kan Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Cambridge University Press
Timmons, M (2002): Kant's Metaphysics of Morals, Oxford University Press
Schroeder, M. (2005): The hypothetical imperative, Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 83, 3, 368
About the Author
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