CAS PH 251 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Categorical Imperative, Rationality, Sentience
7 Aug 2018
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Kant"s theory is a duty-based theory, not consequence-based. Consequences do not make an action right or wrong, it depends on whether or not actions are done out of duty. If one acts out of self-interest, kant says that is not morally praiseworthy, but it also might not be immoral. To act out of duty is to act in accordance with universal principles of reason, i. e. the moral law. Categorical imperative: tells us whether or not an action is in accordance with the moral law: categorical means: all the time, imperative: command, =something you always must do, or not do. Kant proposed a single overarching principle, which tells us whether a proposed action is consistent with the moral law: the categorical. Of the form: if i desire x, than i ought to do y. Hypothetical imperatives only apply if antecedent is true: tells you how to fulfill the goal rationally. If i desire x, then i ought to do y.
