Scribd
Upload
8 views1 page

Kantian Ethics: Maxims and Imperatives

1. Kant argues that acting from a sense of duty or good will is akin to acting from a sense of beauty, as good will is inherently good rather than being defined by its outcomes. 2. For Kant, maxims are general principles that guide action. Moral maxims are those dictated by reason that everyone could universally will themselves and others to follow. 3. Hypothetical imperatives conditionally direct one to achieve specific ends or goals, like studying to pass a test. Categorical imperatives universally command acting in certain ways regardless of ends or goals in order to guarantee moral behavior.

Uploaded by

Lei Yunice Norberte
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views1 page

Kantian Ethics: Maxims and Imperatives

1. Kant argues that acting from a sense of duty or good will is akin to acting from a sense of beauty, as good will is inherently good rather than being defined by its outcomes. 2. For Kant, maxims are general principles that guide action. Moral maxims are those dictated by reason that everyone could universally will themselves and others to follow. 3. Hypothetical imperatives conditionally direct one to achieve specific ends or goals, like studying to pass a test. Categorical imperatives universally command acting in certain ways regardless of ends or goals in order to guarantee moral behavior.

Uploaded by

Lei Yunice Norberte
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

4.

Relate good will and acting from sense of beauty


-If you have executing or doing a Good will then it is like acting from sense of
beauty because good will is one that habitually rightly. And is not what good will
achieves that constitutes its goodness. Good will is good itself.

5. Explain Kant’s acting on maxims.


-As we have seen, maxim is a general is a general rule or principle which serves as
a guide to action. “Don’t wear the wedding gown before the wedding” Be honest
always”, are examples of maxim. Evidently, not all maxims are moral ones. Kant is
concerned with maxims that are moral, that is, those dictated by reason and thus have
imperative force. More accurately, it commands that every maxim you act on must be
such that you are willing to make it the case that everyone always act on that maxim
when in a similar situation.

6. Compare and contrast hypothetical and categorical imperatives.


-A hypothetical imperative is how reason orders one to achieve one’s specific
ends. It directs one to behave on certain manners on the condition that one seeks specified
goals, such as; if you wish to pass, then study hard. So it’s like a decree stating that if you
wish to accomplish such-and-such an end, you must act in such-and-such a way. Some
hypothetical imperatives are concerned with mere prudential actions. Simply a rule for
obtaining some desired ends, a hypothetical imperative is accepted not on its own merits.
Hypothetical imperative is thus both contingent or conditional, because circumstances are
imaginable where studying hard would still not result in passing and in such situations the
maxim may no longer be accepted. On the other hand, categorical imperative says that
No matter what end you desire to attain, act in such-and-such a way” Clearly, it
commands a person to act in particular ways regardless of what goals one looks for or
what one’s end may be. Categorical imperative ordains a rule that, if followed, will
guarantee that a person behaving in accordance with it is acting morally and it serves as
the barometer of reason determining whether or not an action qualifies as ethical

You might also like