PHI 221 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Categorical Imperative, Hypothetical Imperative, Deontological Ethics
17 Nov 2017
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Reason alone, according to kant, can inform us of the moral law, the source of our moral duties. Right actions have moral value only if they are done with a good will a will to do your duty for duty"s sake. To do right, therefore, we must do it for duty"s sake, motivated by respect for the moral law. A hypothetical imperative tells us what we should do if we have certain desires. For example, if you need money, work for it. A categorical imperative tells us that we should do a thing in all situations regardless of our wants and needs. Kant says that the moral law consists entirely of categorical imperatives. All categorical imperatives, according to kant, can be derived from the categorical imperative: First formulation: act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become universal law.
