PHL 302 Lecture Notes - Immanuel Kant, Categorical Imperative, Supererogation
15 Dec 2013
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Kant"s single moral value: the only thing good in itself is a good will: a faculty of choice that conforms solely to universal considerations. A perfectly good will is a will that conforms to rational law (independently of desire, pleasure, and all subjective and particular determinations). A good will acts on considerations that hold for everyone, for every rational being. A first principle must be categorical, the same for every rational being in all circumstances. It must be independent of particular circumstances to include desires, goals, etc. Kant: to be categorical the first principle must be necessary (couldn"t just happen to be true) and a priori (independent of experience reflecting particular circumstances). Kant s first principle is called the categorical imperative. (why an imperative ?) Kant : a command, an imperative, a statement saying that we should or ought to do such and such. Imperatives (sentences containing an ought) categorical independent of particular circumstances hypothetical dependent on particular circumstances.
