PHLA11H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Universalizability, Rationality
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If one acts on a maxim that is not universalizable, one is being inconsistent, and therefore irrational. One would be treating oneself as if one is more important than everyone else exempt from rules that everyone must follow without any relevant grounds for holding oneself as more important. Suppose that someone wants nothing more than to have a picture-perfect lawn. He has been warned, repeatedly, to use the sidewalk to no avail. So the homeowner decides to take matters into his own hands. The next time the mailman tramples his lawn, the homeowner pulls out a gun and kills him. (p. 154) The maxim: take whatever steps are necessary (including killing) in order to preserve the beauty of his lawn. Imagine a world in which everyone takes whatever steps are necessary to preserve the beauty of their lawns. Consider: is it possible to successfully act on the maxim in the universalized.
